Passage Read: Numbers 32-35
Meditation Verses: 32:14-15
Thought
These are such strong words and accusations leveled against these men. They were thinking first of themselves and their families, but perhaps they were also thinking that this decision would benefit the other tribes by making more room for them in the promised land. What they didn't consider was that it might discourage the rest of the tribes from going in to take possession of the land God intended, that it might result in everyone disobeying the Lord again, and being destroyed by Him in His anger. Their response to Moses amazes me on several levels. For one thing, they didn't admit Moses was right, they didn't apologize and they didn't give up their request. Neither were they so insulted by Moses' accusations as to just walk off and do their own thing. Instead, they took his concerns into account and modified their request to accommodate his fears. That's some incredible humility and maturity...and boldness!
Application
I would love to always see everything clearly and so never make a bad or dangerous suggestions or do anything that would make another stumble. But then I wouldn't need the gifts and insights of others and I could live all by myself, which is definitely my fleshly preference, but not God's design or intention for anyone. God intends for His people to live in community and to use the different gifts He's given each member for the good of the whole. That's means I have to welcome the criticism of others just as much as I need to offer my insights to them. That calls for some thick-skinned-ness, because others will not always appropriately filter their responses, even as I'll fail to do the same. It calls for impressive humility, great capacity to overlook offenses, a big heart to embrace others with different gifts and insights, and courage to press forward in what seems right with wisdom to know what adjustments needs to be made. Sounds like a perfect person. Until I get there, I hope I can find a community willing to accept me in my imperfection and incompleteness, and likewise I need to extend that same grace to cover another's imperfection and incompleteness.