Numbers 32:6 “And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?”
The tribes of Gad and Reuben asked to be given tribal areas on the east side of the Jordan River. Moses admonished them for seemingly not wanting to cross the Jordan River and help their Brethren conquer Canaan; telling them, “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?”. For, it appeared that they did not want to stand together with their Brethren and assist them. The message to us, is that in times of war and great troubles, Christian Brethren must stand together. We are not conquering the Land of Canaan; but, great troubles have again come to our Country; we are indeed at war with those who oppose God and godliness. Our adversaries have cast aside Biblical morality, integrity, and truth. They seem to have no constraints; they are employing all “the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11) to obtain and maintain powerful control over the people and to satisfy their immoral and greedy lusts. Some areas of our Country are in greater peril than others. Now is the time for faithful Children of God to stand together, and hear Moses’ words, “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?”! The leaders of Gad and Reuben answered Moses, “we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.” (Numbers 32:17-18). So, let us all (every one of us) “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11). Let us together cry aloud, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;” (Romans 1:16)! Let us “pray one for another” (James 5:16). Let us “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” (I Corinthians 16:13). Let us “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1). Let us “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). Let us uncompromisingly “stand fast in the Lord” (I Thessalonians 3:8). As Paul admonished the Brethren, let us “stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (II Thessalonians 2:15). As Peter admonishes us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (I Peter 5:8)!