Embracing your Family’s Outreach

Reason 1 – God cares about those outside the boundaries.

Note: God’s plan was for all 12 tribes of Israel to live in Canaan. But Gad, Rueben, and the half-tribe of Mannaseh were enticed by the richness of Transjordan, choosing to live outside the land promised by God. In a sense, they chose grass for their cattle over blessings for their children.

Point: This choice meant living outside of the full blessing of God.

Joshua 22:25 – “For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you Reubenites and Gadites you have no portion in the LORD.”

Reason 2 – Their way to God won’t work.

Note: God’s way of blessing was found in Canaan. But the 3 Tribes convinced themselves that their way was better. And even though their intention to build an altar to honor God seems well-meaning, it was, nevertheless, a doomed plan.

Joshua 22:26 – “Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice…’”

Note 2: The 10 Tribes who confronted the “wayward” tribes accepted their explanation. (See Joshua 22:30)

Point: If we accept the rationale of those setting their own way, even if that way seems well-intentioned, we are not helping them to experience the full blessings of God.

Reason 3 – We want to protect them from the enemy.

Joshua 22:19 – “But now, if your land is unclean, cross over into the LORD’S land where the LORD’S tabernacle now stands.”

See: 1 Chronicles 5 (the result of the 3 Tribes’ rebellion)

•           Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Mannaseh were destroyed and conquered by Assyria. And God allowed it to  happen.

Point: When we choose to live outside the boundaries, we open ourselves to attack, perhaps even destruction.

Conclusion

Overall Application: Whether we are thinking about your home family or the church family, the “family’s” primary cause or calling in life is to invite others inside the boundaries so that all who would come could experience the full blessings of God.

Question: Will your family embrace God’s cause? Will you help others to experience God’s full blessing?