In Numbers 32, a bit of a controversy arises between the tribes of Reuben & Gad and Moses. Reuben and Gad present a reasonable request: since Gilead is good for our flocks, please let us settle here.
Moses, however, doesn’t care much for that idea. His problem? Gilead is on the “wrong side” of the Jordan River. Remember, Moses was at Kadesh-Barnea when the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land almost forty years earlier. Moses had decades of experience with the rather grumbly and unfaithful nation of Israel. Also, keep in mind that Moses is one of a tiny handful of people who actually experienced the Exodus and saw God’s power displayed then. Moses hears the request of Reuben and Gad – and a mental trigger goes off. I can almost see him shake his head and say, “Oh no! Not more unwillingness to enter the Promised Land!” I can hear him begin to berate the leaders of Reuben and Gad, reminding them of Kadesh-Barnea and threatening God’s wrath. In fact, he pretty much does just that: Num. 32.6-15.
This passage reminds me of one of those times when two parties are both right, but because they’re talking past each other, they feel like they’re arguing. The Reubenites & Gadites were right – they had a reasonable request and they had no intention of disobeying God or forsaking Israel. Moses was right – if the people of Israel shied away from the land of promise again, God would deal with them severely. Perhaps those two tribes could have made their request clearer the first time, but (as the story is recorded in the chapter) it looks like Moses is the one who jumps past the actual and gives warning based on the possible.
Pause the Biblical story for a moment. Think about the last time you saw this happen. Perhaps you’ve seen it happen in a church or a movement of Christianity. Older leaders are firm on the lines they’ve drawn because of the battles they’ve fought; younger members are reasoning through the whys and wherefores with good intention. But there are times when the youngsters ask questions or probe philosophies or practices – and then the older generation responds with warnings and scolding (but no answer to the question!). What happens next? I’d submit to you that what happened in Numbers 32 is rather different from what often happens today.
The Reubenites and Gadites didn’t run off to their forums, blogs, Facebook pages or Twitter feeds.* Ok, they didn’t have those. They didn’t run back to their families in the camps and spread the news about how unfair and grouchy and anti-intellectual and wrong Moses was. They responded humbly. First, they moved closer to Moses and spoke to him directly (Num. 32.16) to reword their request (speculation: without a big brouhaha!). Second, they allayed Moses’ fears. They didn’t take affront at his “accusation.” They (in the text) calmly explained their willingness to follow God’s plan and promised to give up their Gilead possession if they shrank back from the conquest.. Third, they put action behind their words of clarification. They took up their swords and went to battle, keeping their end of the bargain.
Moses didn’t get up on a soapbox and denounce these two tribes to the rest of the nation. He didn’t call them out publicly for cowardice, unbelief or any other sin. Moses responded humbly. When they demonstrated sincerity and obedience to God’s command, he agreed to their request and treated them kindly.
Why do things seem to fall out differently today than in Moses’ day? Sadly, humility is often lacking. Young Christians take offense at well-intentioned warning; older Christians assume the worst of well-intentioned questions. What all of us need is Christ – we need his humility in us as we minister together (Phil. 2.5-8; I Pet. 5.1-6).
* I’m not condemning these technologies; all they do is facilitate good or evil. We are accountable for how we use them.