EAST OF JORDAN: GOOD START - BAD END. 1st Chronicles 5 As much as we hate war, and the consequences of warfare are death and destruction, battles are fought between opposing nations, and sometimes lesser battles between ideologies and families. Mankind, because of our sinful nature, is not satisfied until we get what we want for ourselves, and often at any cost. The listing of the leaders of the two and a half tribes of Israel that settled on the east side of Jordan is mainly that of military leaders. The history of most nations includes times of warfare and both victories and defeats. In this way, succeeding generations who may be enjoying the results of the bloodshed of those in generations before them will hopefully learn that the blessings they enjoy now were costly to others.
Unbelief is breaking a trust, a solemn promise of faithfulness and commitment. In marriage, adultery is the ultimate breach of trust. The Israelites east of the Jordan River acted like adulterers when they turned to idols instead of remaining faithful to God. Israel had believed a lie and abandoned the covenant that the nation had with the Lord God of Israel.
When the Chronicles were written, the tribes were not significant because after the return from exile, there was no real tribal identity among those who lived east of Jordan. Two centuries earlier, the Assyrians had conquered the northern tribes, beginning with Reuben, which bordered Assyria. The people had been dispersed throughout the Assyrian empire and had lost their real identity.
Reuben's heritage as the firstborn son was taken from him because of his sin and given to Joseph. From then on, Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, had the right of the firstborn, and Judah was given the place of leadership for the whole nation. Joseph had the double portion through his sons, but Judah had the leadership by which God made the covenant with the “house of David.” Judah’s role was determined by the grace of God instead of the natural rights of succession.
Not all siblings are the same in families. Even though they have the same last name, some traits stand out in one and different ones in the other. Parental influence plays a significant part in their children's character development. “Train up a child in the way he should go (his natural bent), and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The only thing completely alike in each child is that each has a deceitful heart. That often shows itself outwardly in unique ways. One may be quiet, the other has a lot to say. Even though the ties of nature link brothers and sisters, each has to personally believe in and accept the Lord.
Judah seemed to be a born leader. From his line came the One who is the Savior of the world. Judah's faults and sins dimmed his moral light, but “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” is “The Way, the Truth, and the Life.” It would be wrong to expect each brother in a family to lead in everything. One may be an evangelist; another is called to feed the people of God with spiritual teaching and biblical truth. The fact is that God can use them both in His work.
Joseph was tested in many ways; he seemed to be a visionary who could see things through spiritual eyes. Sometimes, from a family, one is called to be a missionary, but that doesn’t mean he is more important than all of the other members of the family. He has a different purpose in life. Joseph got the birthright even though he was second to last in order of birth. He took the leadership until the famine passed, and that role was his throughout his life. That is the way it is now. Each member of a family may have a unique role –each one in his or her place has a purpose to fulfill.
Because of Reuben's gross sin, he forfeited the double portion that historically was given to the firstborn son. Joseph's two sons each got full tribal recognition and benefits because of Joseph's faithfulness to God. Reuben was a privileged son at the beginning of his life, and on occasions seemed to be willing to assume his leadership role. The consequences of his sin ruined not only his personal testimony and took away his place of leadership, but also the disaster of yielding to temptations affected the lives of those in his tribe who followed him.
My choices will affect my children and grandchildren, and even those who will come after them in the family tree. The place where I live, the occupation of my life, the things I do in business or leisure, my convictions, my faith, and the practices of my life will leave some kind of impression on them.
To their credit, the two and a half tribes, Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, did not let the actions of Reuben, their ancient forefather, sour them or keep them from fulfilling their potential. They did not complain about Joseph's sons or Judah being ahead of the inheritance or leadership. Judah made some very bad decisions, but he stood up as a surety for Benjamin and became the spokesperson for the family. Reuben's descendants were good cattlemen and were doing a good job with what they had received for their inheritance. By pressing ahead to claim all that was theirs and moving east to the edge of the desert, they gained good land for their enterprises.
God's people are not all the same in their personality, ambition, and family characteristics. But when we are united with others of "like precious faith," and do not let past failures "hamstring" us to where we will do nothing, there can be spiritual victories. Those who connect easily with people personally may not be the ones to preach the Gospel publicly on behalf of the assembly. Others may be able to reach out to "the regions beyond," and the assembly as a whole is able to support their outreach. Some can effectively teach the word of God and consolidate the work of the Gospel by carefully explaining the will of God to us in an expositional way.
The tribe of Gad had settled next to Reuben, but by comparison, it seemed to be a laid-back people who were content to let others do what they wanted, "but please don't bother us." When their land wasn't producing enough to raise cattle and sheep, they turned to raising pigs that would dig in the ground to sustain them, rather than needing grass.
If we spend our time looking back instead of ahead, we are in danger of being defeated by the present and will have no future. It is true that if one does nothing, he makes no mistakes (he is probably dead), but he certainly contributes nothing to benefit others. By his apathetic complacency, he will soon have nothing for himself and his family.
When God's people settle down to a routine life of business occasionally mixed with pleasure, and at our convenience, we contribute a little to assembly life; it will not be long before they are unhappy, discontented, and critical of others. Enthusiasm for spiritual things and ambition in the furtherance of the kingdom of God give meaning to our lives. When we live for eternity, the present is merely a beneficial stepping stone to that which is full and satisfying. Our present life is simply an opportunity to fulfill our preparation for our eternal calling. love for God and people gives a meaning to life that is far superior to having fat pigs.
When the combined military power of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh got God's direction, prayed to God, and trusted in Him, they won battles and gained territory because the "war was of God." They had trained and developed military skills before, but were wise enough to know they had to trust God to bring about the desired result. The victories were not because of their skill and strength. Even though they were “mighty men of valor,” they rejected and were unfaithful to the “God of their fathers.’ Consequently, God used the Assyrians to carry out His punishment on them because they rejected Him and turned to the false gods that the people around them served.
God has given us all we need to serve and be useful to Him. Our successes are the result of God using us rather than our skill, strength, and clever ideas. We need God and His guidance in every situation we face in life. He knows our hearts and the motivation behind our actions. The standard of success is not measured by society but by the pleasure and glory it brings to God.
The learning process of "Christian education" practiced in scripturally gathered assemblies of God's people is a remarkably effective way of training and developing spiritual skills. Our teaching meetings and time for practical applications of truth between those times the assembly comes together, provide the Lord's people with an "apprenticeship program" that works well.
Older saints teach the younger from the scriptures and their life experiences with God, and may even take them along with them to practice what they have learned. After a meeting, one might ask another, "How have things been going this week?" This opens the way to communicating one's practical experience in a similar manner. That can significantly help those under pressure at school or at a job where they need moral answers to their problems. Some people have an instinctive way of coming alongside and helping others. Some must choose to do what does not come naturally to them, and they usually wouldn't do it. But we all need the help of others from time to time, and they need ours too. Victory in life comes when spiritual solutions are applied to life's difficulties.
The tribes east of Jordan did well at first when they were united under God's guidance. Even though they were different, when their differences were applied to the present need, they all shared, unified, and had exceptional strength. Brave people, famous people who fear God, are wonderful to be around, and we can learn from them and follow their lead. Paul said, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."
The writer of the Chronicles knew the positive side of the history of those three tribes and their military and geographical conquests. But to be honest and fair with the present generation, he wrote about the bad ending as well as the good start. The leadership failed. They "transgressed against the God of their fathers." They were unfaithful to God. The military skill, the business acumen, the enthusiastic attitude of some, fame, and success could not preserve them from their enemies. Not only were they unfaithful to God, but they prostituted themselves to false gods and served the idols that other people around them served.
Those very idols and the people who had worshipped them had once been destroyed, and the Lord's people had prospered because God was with them. However, following generations forgot the lessons of history and thought they could do what they wanted and get away with it. To compromise our convictions or those of our parents may not seem too serious at the moment. But compromise leads to disloyalty to God, and disloyalty leads to a lack of allegiance to the truth of God. That is followed by disobedience, followed by divine justice carrying out judgment.
It is possible to start life by committing a serious sin, yet recover in a measure to usefulness. Usefulness enables us to experience a degree of success, but that can be lost in a short time if we forget "the hole of the pit from whence we have been digged, and the rock from which we have been hewn." Then the following generations hopefully will learn not to do what we did, and unite with others of "like precious faith" to go forward in the things of God now, at this present time!