Yesterday we said that we will be looking at least seven spiritual
lessons that we can apply to our spiritual journey from this section of Joshua
13-21. From the land inheritance of the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe
of Manasseh we the first lesson we should learn is that we should not be borderline
believers.
You will find the background to their inheritance on the
east side of the Jordan River in Numbers 32. When they first asked for their inheritance
there, Moses was angry with them and told them it was not right that they sat
at ease in their dwellings while the other tribes crossed the river and would
be fighting to conquer the promised inheritance from the Lord. They replied
that they would build secure places for their families, flocks and herds, but
that they would go first ahead of the armies of Israel and fight with them till
the land had been conquered. So, Moses agreed with this and gave them their
inheritance on the east side of the border.
These tribes became a sort of "buffer zone"
between the Jews in Canaan and the heathen nations like Moab and Ammon. Of
course, their location made them extremely vulnerable both to military attack
and ungodly influence; and both of these liabilities eventually brought about
their downfall (1 Chronicles 5:25-26). The boundaries are given for Reuben in
the south (Joshua 13:15-23), and the half tribe of Manasseh in the north (Joshua
13:29-32), with Gad sandwiched between (Joshua 13:24-28).
We should enter into the inheritance God appoints for us in
Christ and rejoice in it. "He will choose our inheritance for us, the
excellence of Jacob whom He loves" (Ps. 47:4). The will of God is the
expression of the love of God and is always the best for us. By faith we should
surrender to the will of God and dedicate our lives as a living sacrifice. Paul
said it this way in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ... that you may prove
what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
In Joshua 13:22-23, it is interesting to note that since the
tribe of Reuben had taken its territory from Moab, it was logical for the story
of Balaam to be mentioned here. Read Numbers 22-25 for the full account of it. When
Balaam saw that God was turning his curses into blessings, he advised Balak to
be friendly to the Jews and invite them to one of the Moabite religious feasts.
This resulted in some of the Jewish men taking Moabite women for themselves and
thus violating the Law of God. What Satan couldn't accomplish as a lion,
cursing Israel, he accomplished as a serpent, beguiling Israel and leading the
men into wicked compromise.
In the New Testament we are clearly taught that there are
no half-way disciples of Jesus. We must either follow Jesus all the way or not
follow Him at all. A “borderline believer” is one who has one foot in the Word
and the other in world. James about this warned in James 1:5-8 “...But let him ask in faith, with no
doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the
wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
It is impossible to please the Lord as a double-souled believer.
It is also a dangerous place to be because
you leave yourself open to the attacks and temptations of the devil and the
world. (James 1:12-16). A borderline believer is one that the Lord calls
lukewarm in Revelation 3:14-17, “… 'I know your works, that
you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then,
because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My
mouth. .."
Please determine not to be a “borderline believer”, and by
God’s grace surrender your all to Jesus Christ and enjoy the full blessings of
your inheritance!
God bless!
