When We Just Sit By

Introduction

Worshiping God, praising our Creator, and thanking him for all that he has done. If you will open in your Old Testament with me to Numbers chapter 32, Numbers chapter 32. And as you’re turning there, I’ll just say, as a word of kind of reminder and just to an FYI, this morning at the 9 o’clock hour, as Ken and I will, every fourth Sunday of the month, we did our question and answer month question and answer month or day, where we just answer questions together. We answered three questions this morning, and that should be available on our website and through our YouTube channel within a few days. So I want to say thank you to Brother Mike Maneer and all those who are working at recording and making that available if you were unable to make it.

And if you are able to make it, on the fourth Sunday in July, the 22nd, we will be meeting and having that type of service again, Lord willing. In Numbers chapter 32, though, in verse 1. Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock. And they saw the land of Jazeer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock. So the people of Gad and the people of Reuben came and said to Moses and to Eliezer the priests and to the chiefs of the congregation, the land that the Lord struck down before the congregation of Israel is a land for livestock. And your servants have livestock. And they said, If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession.

Do not take us across the Jordan. But Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here? Of course, we have to understand in Numbers chapter 32 that the people of Israel are finally going to come and they’re going to enter the promised land. God had promised Abraham way back in Genesis chapter 12 that in this covenant relationship he would make, he would make of him a great nation. That was Israel, check. That they would have a land for the nation to dwell in, and they’re working on that check. And that through his seed all families of the earth would be blessed. And so here are the people of Israel, a unique and holy people to God.

They are marching through to the land of Canaan. And really what they had to do was they had to cross the Jordan River, and there was the majority of the land that God had promised his people. But on the way there, what was it that Gad and Reuben had noticed? Well, in verse 1 and 2, we see they had a lot of livestock, and guess what that land on the easy side of the Jordan, we might say, had. It had a lot of room and it was a great place for their livestock. And so they come to Moses and they say, Hey, why don’t we just stop here? There’s ten other tribes they can go through, they can fight, you’ll be successful. You don’t need us.

Why don’t we stay here? Why don’t we settle this land and we’ll be okay? Did Moses take that as kind of a fair question? Did he say, hey, good thought, you guys? Why don’t you just go ahead and stay there? No, verse 6. Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here? Verse 7, note this. Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the Lord has given them? This morning I want to discuss the idea of when we just sit by. Sometimes it’s easy to just be the person kind of sitting on the sideline to take care of our own little house and to make sure everything’s in order. And certainly from the way that God has revealed his word in the New Testament, as Christians, we are responsible for our own house.

We’re responsible for making sure our faith, our relationship with God is good, and that we then impact others along the way. But the problem with sitting by is not just laziness or idleness, although that is a problem. Moses reveals here in Numbers chapter 32 there is another problem with when we let others do the work. It’s not just that we’re busy, and it’s not just that we need to do better, it’s that it has a real impact on other people. I think this world would be a different place if we would recognize not only politically, but scripturally, that the way we act impacts everyone. We have to think as we’re making our decisions, as we’re going through this life, that when I don’t act, either nothing gets done, or somebody else is going to help in a way that maybe might not be the way God wants.

1. They Didn’t Want to Cross Over

When we just sit by, we need to understand this challenge for Reuben and Gad is a precursor to a challenge for ourselves. You see that first one. They didn’t want to cross over. Why didn’t they want to cross over? Well, verse 1 and 2 is very clear. The land was good. And of course, there’s that sneaky, pesky part about if they don’t cross into the Jordan, guess what they don’t have to be involved in? That great fight to take out the Canaanites, the Amorites, and all those people that God had said, if you will trust in me, if you will be my people, you will keep my commandments, I will deliver you into this land. You see, Moses recognizes that. In fact, in verse 8, he says, Your fathers did this when I sent them from Cadeshbronia to see the land.

For when they went up to the valley of Ascal and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the people of Israel from going into the land that the Lord had given them. And the Lord’s anger was kindled on that day. Now, what is that day? That day is Numbers 13 and 14. We know the story. Remember the twelve tri the twelve spies who went out on behalf of their tribes? And they said, We want to see what this great land is like. What does it look like? Is it good? Can we take down whoever’s there? And they came back, and all the spies said, the land is great. It’s flowing with milk and honey. This is a fantastic land. But everybody but Joshua and Caleb said, But there are giants there.

We’re no match for them. They didn’t trust in God. Caleb and Joshua begged the people, they said, Look, trust in God, he’ll get us through. We will win if the Lord is on our side. But the people were discouraged by the report of the ten trip spies. So as you think about that discouragement, you see what it does to the Lord. The Lord’s anger was kindled. And notice he swore, saying in verse 11, Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upwards, shall see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and to Jacob. Because they have not followed me. None except Caleb, the son of Japannah the Kenesite, and Joshua the son of Nun. For they have wholly followed the Lord.

The Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was gone. And behold, you have risen in your father’s place, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the feast fierce anger of the Lord against Israel. For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people. So they said, We don’t want to cross over and fight. Can we just stay on this side of the Jordan? Do we have to go? There’s ten other tribes. We have land, we have livestock, we need to take care of our families. We need to take care of our livestock.

Don’t you think y’all can take it from there? Moses not only warns them to step up, he says, This is just like when your forefathers did what to God? Greatly kindled his anger, made him so mad that what did the Lord swear, verses 10 and 11? None of these people, other than Joshua and Caleb, the two good spies, no one seeing the promised land. No one’s going to get to realize the benefit that I have intended for you. Moses says, Hey, you get to make a choice. But I want you to know what is your choice. Please in God and reaping the benefits, or rejecting him and facing the consequences. Of course, we see what they would do they would decide, and of course, Moses then further underlines hey, here’s why it’s important to do what God says.

They came near to him and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones. But we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. Our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance. For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east. So Moses said to them, If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the Lord for war, and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the Lord, until he has driven out his enemies from before him, and the land is subdued before the Lord, then, then after you shall return and be free of obligation to the Lord and to Israel, then this land shall be your possession before the Lord.

2. Allowing Ourselves to Be Distracted

But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. That phrase at the end of verse 23, be sure your sin won’t find you out, doesn’t just mean that people would know that they didn’t fight. They wouldn’t just think that they were cowards. It was they will be responsible for their actions. And the truth of the matter is, when I think about Numbers 32, I think about Reuben and Gad. I realize they really are a lot like me, and probably, if we’re honest, several here this morning. There’s a lot of times I don’t want to step up and serve the way I know I should, and I have a litany of reasons, one such reason is because we’re allowing ourselves to be distracted.

In Luke chapter 8, turn there with me. Luke chapter 8, a more familiar text perhaps than Numbers 32. In Luke chapter 8, in the parable of the sower. Note of the different soils that the seed will be planted in, as Jesus is explaining, here’s the different type of seed. The seed is the word of God, the different soils. How would they react? How would they interact with the word of God? There was the stoning ground, and what is that? Well, the devil comes and takes the heart from the believer, even perhaps before he believes. And then, of course, you have the thorny ground, and that’s what we want to focus on. If you look in Luke chapter 8 and verse 13, the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy.

But these have no root. They believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And then 14, for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear. But as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. Of course, verse 15 has a strong example. What does he want? He wants us to have a good and honest heart. A good and honest heart does what? The good soil.

Fruit many times over, as Matthew’s account would say, 30, 60, or even 90 times. Of course, as you think then about my life, as you think about your life, and you say, why don’t I do more? If we’re honest, we all realize we could do more, but maybe you’re someone who’s here this morning, and you say, you know, I know God wants me to do more. I know God expects more of me. But I got a lot going on. If we’re honest, it’s kind of a lot like Reuben and Gad. What they were saying was, we have a lot of livestock. Here is this land right here. It is great for livestock. Moses, don’t you see? This is a perfect fit. See, they were trying to give an excuse.

They’re trying to give a reason they didn’t need to go on and fight. They were distracted. Just like the thorny ground. They were distracted by the cares and concerns of this life. In 2 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 10, Paul makes a note about a man named Demas. Demas was a good follower of his. If you look at the end of Colossians chapter 4, Paul says, Demas is one of my disciples. He’s one of my friends, one of my brothers. But in 2 Timothy 4 and verse 10, he had deserted Paul. Why? Because he was in love with this present world. Sometimes, if we’re really honest, we don’t step up and serve because we’re distracted. And there really is no other reason. Whether we’re distracted by wanting to do things this life has to offer, whether we’re distracted by work, whether we’re distracted by family and friends, or maybe even we’re so distracted and paralyzed by the knowledge we should do better.

Have you ever been there before? Where you know you should do better, and that itself becomes an inhibitor to doing better. Sometimes we allow our fears to overwhelm us. What was the message for God to Joshua as people? When Joshua was actually leading the people through the land, when they cross the Jordan in Joshua chapter 1, multiple times, Joshua was told to do what? Be strong and courageous. Do not fear. Why? For I, the Lord am with you wherever you go.

3. We Are Discouragement to Others

We have to step up. We can get distracted. We can allow others to do the work for us. And that’s what Reuben and Gad were doing. They’re saying, look, the ten tribes, Moses, if you get them over, if Joshua leads the people over, they’re going to be fine. They’re going to get through. God’s on their side. Why don’t you let us just stop here and enjoy this land and we’ll do what we can do from here? But Moses and God weren’t okay with that. And so we can’t be either. I think there’s a problem because sometimes we think about doing more at some sort of unlimited can that we can never fill. It’s just some sort of container that we’re filling with water and all kinds of liquids, and we think we’re going to please God if we just pour in enough.

If we just get it high enough, then we can kind of relax. But that’s not what Christianity is about at all. And the problem Moses points out in Numbers 32 is perhaps one of the stronger reasons that we cannot sit idly by. When we sit and don’t help, one of two things happens. Either the work stops and is hampered, or somebody else has to do it. And usually what happens is they say 20% of the group does 80% of the work, and 80% of the group does 20% of the work. And we hear those statistics and we kind of laugh, and if you’re in the 20% that’s doing 80% of the work, you don’t laugh, it’s kind of like a nervous laughter. We are discouragement to others.

This is a problem. Because not only is the work going undone, not only are we not pleasing to God like Reuben and Gad, we’re going to answer for what we’ve done. Our sin will find us out if we are, in fact, being lazy or shortchanging the Lord. But can we be realistic and just say, when I don’t step up and serve, not only is the work being hampered, I’m discouraging my fellow brothers and sisters. I know we don’t really think of it that way, but when we think about all the foreign policy that’s going on, when we think about all the economic problems or successes that this country is having, we’re always worried about how everybody feels, right? What’s the best for our family? What’s the best for our friends?

What’s the best for our nation? But do we think what’s the best for my congregation? What’s the best way that I can be encouraging rather than discouraging? Look in the book of Proverbs. Turn over to Proverbs. We’re going to look at a couple of these. In Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 9. Consider the wisdom here in Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 9. Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. Would you ever think or believe that being kind of a slacker is the same as destroying? We kind of say, well, at least the work’s going on, like Reuben and Gad, you know, the ten tribes can still go through.

They can still fight the battle. We’re not going to stop them. We’re not going to fight against them. We’re just going to take care of our life here and let Israel do the rest. But Moses said what? Not only was this wrong, but you are being a discouragement. You are kindling the Lord’s anger against you. There’s no winning. When we refuse to do what God has commanded, when we refuse to submit to God and step up to take the challenge, to do the congregational theme of standing firm and taking action, we have to realize that not only are we failing individually, we might be causing others to fail too. Galatians chapter 6, verse 1 and 2 is very clear. You who are storitual should restore those or take care of those who are in their spiritual trespasses.

We are to what? Bear one another’s burdens. Jesus in the New Testament not only makes it clear that we have to love one another, that we have to sacrifice for one another, but that our mindset has to be such that says others are more important than self. And if for no other reason than I am a discouragement to others when I don’t act, when I don’t serve God, when I don’t shine my light, I need to step up. We often think because this congregation and the world keeps going, whether we’re sick, whether we’re on the sideline, whether we’re on the couch, whether we’re watching sports or Netflix or movies or theme parks or on vacation, you name it, the world moves on. Church moves on. The days pass, the calendar turns year after year, month after month.

4. Stir One Another Up to Love and Good Works

But we can’t think like that. We have to think like God has told his people from the beginning, dating back to Numbers 32, and certainly today. We have an active role and responsibility to reach out to one another. And when we don’t, we’re missing the big picture. There’s a story of a man whose son went off into battle and served in the army. And it turned out that his son died in his service. And one day, a few years later, a young man around his son’s age knocked on the older man’s door and he said, Sir, I served with your son. He died saving my life. He said, I heard that you were a man who collected great paintings, and this man did. He had, you name the famous painting, he had it, or a version of it.

He was wealthy, and this was one way he used his vast wealth. He had a wonderful, exclusive collection of art. And the young former soldier said, I painted you the best I could. I understand it won’t stack up to what you have, but this is all I can offer. And he handed him a painting of his son. And the father was struck by the image of his son and the likeness of the joy and the loyalty that he always showed. And in that man’s collection, that was his prized position. As time passed, the older gentleman passed away. The father had died. And his great art collection was going to go up for an auction as set up in his will. And of course, as they began the auction, the auctioneer said, Okay, first up is this painting.

The painting of this man’s son. Who will open the bidding? There was silence. No one wanted it because they heard about all the wonderful paintings, all the Monet’s, all the Degas that were in the collection. And somebody shouted from the back, get to the good stuff. And the auctioneer said, Will anyone give $500? 100. And again, the chant from the back, will anyone give the good stuff? When will we get there? Man said, the auctioneer, will anyone give $10? Finally, one of the man’s servants said, I’ll give you $10 for that painting. And the crowd cheered. They said, Now we’re getting to the good stuff. And the auctioneer put down his gavel and he said, The auction is closed. He said, The Father in his will had said, This was my prized collection.

This was my prized painting. Anybody who sees the worth in this can receive all the treasures that I have to offer. That servant who with $10 purchased the painting of his son, got the entire collection of the Degas and the Monet, because he recognized the value and the love of what’s in just a simple painting of what characterizes a person. And the Father put all he had into his son in Jesus is sent by God. And God says, you have to submit to Jesus. Hebrews chapter 10, we know the passage on not forsaking the assembly, but do we know the part before? We are to stir one another up to love and good works. When we sit by, we not only reject Jesus, we discourage others from accepting him.

We’re the ones who are in the background saying, we’re just going to wait for the big stuff. We’re going to wait for the ideas and the acts of service that are tailored for me rather than stepping up and being uncomfortable. We’re like Reuben and Gad. We don’t do the hard part. But God’s not mocked by that. And perhaps can I express it in any more clear way? Others are discouraged when we don’t obey. When we don’t step up. The truth of the matter is, when we reject Jesus, when we reject the work, we are rejecting God, and the work is hampered. In the book of Ecclesiastes, if you look there, the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 9. Or excuse me, chapter 4, beginning in verse 9. Ecclesiastes chapter 4, beginning in verse nine.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him, a threefold cord is not quickly broken. And of course we know Proverbs twenty seven, seventeen, as iron sharpens iron, we have to sharpen one another. We take that idea, we we know the iron sharpens iron, we know that two are better than one, a threefold cord is not quickly broken. But how much do we really think about that?

Do you think Reuben and Gad spent a lot of time throughout their tribes thinking about the impact of them not going? Where was their focus? Where was their concern? You read it very clearly in verses one through five. The concern was on us, our livestock, this land that we saw that looks good for us, what we want, what I think I should do, and how I think I can serve. God doesn’t work that way. Jesus says we are to be lights into the world so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. If I don’t shine my light, the work of the Lord is hampered. And even if it’s not, even if somebody does step up and serve, even if somebody does step up and take over the role that I should take, can I say I’m benefiting the kingdom?

Conclusion

When I say I love my brothers and sisters in Christ, is that true? Is it love to sit back and let others serve? Of course not. We have to serve God with all that we have, with all that we are, the way that God has already given us His Son to die on the cross in my place and for my sins. The truth of the matter is, if you go back to Numbers 32 as we conclude the lesson this morning, in Numbers chapter 32, beginning in verse 21, God’s not mocked or fooled by this. In Numbers 32 and verse 21, Moses tells them, every one of you, every armed man is to go into battle, is to go with the people, to go before the Lord and fight.

Every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven out his enemies from before him, and the land is subdued before the Lord. Then after that you shall return to be free of obligation to the Lord and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the Lord. But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. As we think about this, as we process, and when I think about when I don’t step up and serve, the truth of the matter is, I usually don’t because I’m distracted, I don’t think I should serve, or I don’t think I have to because somebody else will. And that might sometimes be right, but sometimes it won’t.

If we think that we can do good, imagine how good a group of people this size could do in a community for God’s will. Imagine if we banded together and we didn’t take everything lightly, we didn’t get caught up in this world. We didn’t get focused on politics, but we focused on the will of God and teaching others the need for Jesus. If we recognize the need for the Son, then we recognize the need to serve the Son. Jesus says, Count the cost of following me. The cost is high. Service is expected. Sacrifice every day of our life is expected. We’ll never stop pouring into the cup of service. God deserves our whole life. And when we fall short, God not only sees, God’s anger is not only kindled, but we’re discouraging others in the process.

And it may very well be that when it comes to evangelism or service, my impact might be the only one that a member of the world has from a Christian child of God. Am I willing? Am I prepared? Am I able to stand before my God and say, I have given my all. I have fought the fight, as Paul would say. I have finished the race. Moses says very clearly, you do not stop. You work until what? Until every tribe of Israel has their land. Until you have crossed the Jordan, you have fought the fight. And everybody else has their land. Then and only then can you return. Do I care enough about others to fight the fight? Am I willing to cross the Jordan? Am I willing to fight others’ battles because they are my kinsmen?

They are my brothers. They are my sisters. Am I willing to be an encouragement? Am I willing to step up, to step out, to be uncomfortable because I love God and I love his people.

It’s easy to be on the sideline. But when we don’t step up and serve, we’re like the thorny ground. Our service has been choked out by the cares and the pleasures and the concerns of this life. We’re not considering how to stir one another up to love and good works, but rather we’re sowing seeds of discouragement and frustration. The work is hampered by God. The work is designed. It is meant by God for us to work together. And if we do that, not only will the Lord see those who slack, he will see those who fight. He will see those who are with their brothers and sisters, who are in encouragement, who show love, who stir one another up to love and good works. God sees that too.

And Moses’ words for the people was not just a warning, it was a promise. If you fight, if you cross, you will make it. You can have the land that you desire. Our God has made it clear if you trust in Him, if you step up, if you serve Him daily, He will forgive you. He will show you mercy, and you can be His child. Isn’t that an amazing blessing? We have to know that. Otherwise, we won’t serve. We have to remember our God. Remember the sacrifice of Jesus and dedicate every single moment, taking every time, every thought captive in our pursuit of being with our God. If you’re here this morning and you’ve never become a Christian, recognize that God is the only way to peace.

He is the only way to salvation and forgiveness of sins. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. You can have your sins forgiven if you believe in Jesus. You confess him as the Christ, the Son of the living God, King and reigner of our entire life. Be willing to repent of your sin. Recognizing that sometimes we’re distracted, sometimes we’re lazy, sometimes we don’t step up when we should. But when you’re baptized, you can have your sins washed away forevermore by our great and merciful God. Or maybe you’ve become a Christian and you’ve strayed from God. You recognize here’s what God says, but here’s what I’ve done. I’ve sat on the sidelines too long. I’ve stayed on the side and let others do the work for way too long to be pleasing to my God.

Recognize our God whose anger can be kindled will also be a God who will forgive. If we can help you in any way, be right with God this morning as we stand and sing the invitation song.

Why will it be? Why will it be where it is in the time?