“Shall Your Brethren Go To War . . . ?”
(Numbers 32:1-6)

The Old Testament book of “Numbers” gives us the story of the Israelites during the 40-year period of wandering in the wilderness. Most of the events recorded by Moses occurred in the 2nd and 40th years of this long period of time.
“Numbers” is an account of God’s patience, pardon, and protection for His chosen people in the wilderness. It’s the story of how the Israelites were chastened, and trained, in that wilderness to prepare them to live in Canaan. It’s a call to faithfulness. People are always lost, and wandering, when they disregard God and His direction. Moving forward comes from trusting Him and obeying Him.
Now, just as Israel finally stood ready to enter the “promised land”, the tribes of Reuben and Gad made a request of Moses. They wanted to settle on the east side of the Jordan River; not cross into Canaan proper, west of Jordan. But, Moses asks a question: “Shall you be at ease while your kinsmen have to fight for their land?”
We can ask the same question, today, as Moses did then: shall others go to war, and we sit idly by. What is our obligation when it comes to upholding what is true, and right, in God’s sight?
Like Israel, we are at war; not against physical forces, but “. . . against principalities, against power, against the rulers of darkness of this age . . . (Ephesians 6:12). Are we prepared to “contend . . . for the faith . . .” (Jude:3), or will we just sit here?
The church has had a history of standing for the truth. But, as is always so, we are but a single generation removed from apostasy. The values of God’s word are under attack, today. Will we take up our weapons to defend them, or sit idly by and see them maligned and abandoned?