Here in chapter 5 we find that Ruben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh did not go all the way into the promised land. They liked it on the east bank of the Jordan, it seemed good to them. It did not matter that God had wanted them to go all the way into the land, they stopped short and remained on the edge of His will.
Whenever we are on the edge, half in and half out, or not “all in”, as the modern vinacular describes commitment, we have a tendency to be influenced, compromised, even completely carried away by others. Which is presisley what happened to these tribes.
“They were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into captivity” (vv.25-26)
Being in the center of God’s will is where we want to be, not on the outer edges where we become vulnerable to attack. I encourage you, “go all in”.
The Truth:
“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)
