This week's Torah portion brings us to the end of Bamidbar, the Book of Numbers. The children of Israel are preparing to enter the land as Moses recounts the history of the wilderness wanderings and the distribution of land. In chapter 32, the tribes of Reuben and Gad ask Moses if they could settle on the east side of the Jordan without entering the land. The reason is that grazing is better for their cattle. Moses responds by questioning their commitment to conquering the land and tells them that their lack of commitment would be a discouragement to their brothers. Moreover, he tells them that this is what their fathers did when they refused to believe they could conquer the land. For Moses this was a disaster! He knew that they all had to enter the promised land. The leaders of these tribes listen to Moses, and they promise that they will enter the land and fight for their brethren. Then, after the land is secured, they will return to the east side of the Jordan.
There are some important lessons that we can learn from this exchange. First, we must remember that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. The tribes of Reuben and Gad were part of the people of Israel. God had called Israel to dwell in the land. These tribes needed to realize that they had a responsibility to their people despite their personal preference. This is true in a congregation as well. Sometimes it is more important to be unified and work together as a team than to fight for our preferences. Deference to one another is a virtue. This is a Messiah-like way of living. “Do nothing out of selfish social advantage or exaggerated self-conception, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own concerns, but also for the concerns of others” (Phil. 2:3–4).
Another lesson to learn from this passage is that everyone is important. The tribes of Reuben and Gad were important to the whole. Therefore, they were needed to secure the land. In the new covenant, Paul uses the metaphor of a human body to describe Messiah followers. Every part of the body is important to the whole and therefore for the fulfillment of the calling. Every one of us has a role to play. Every one of us therefore needs to be involved in the vision of the community. “We are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Messiah, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Eph. 4:15b–16). Notice the importance of each individual part!
There are many venues in which these truths can be applied. It is true in our local congregation, the greater Messianic Jewish movement, as well as the nation of Israel. May our commitment to Yeshua cause us to make a difference as we serve the vision of Beth Messiah, the Messianic Jewish movement, the greater Body of Messiah, and the greater Jewish community!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Howard
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