Numbers 32:5
‘They said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession; do not take us across the Jordan.”‘
Years ago someone crafted the will of God in many parts. The best was God’s actual will. A limited one was God’s permissive will. I’m not sure of the legitimacy of that, but this scripture is an example of it.
God still loved them and they were His. God would tolerate particular behavior, but He wished they didn’t do this.
What’s wrong with their choice? They were on the wrong side of the river. This cut them off from the rest of the people. They would be vulnerable to attack from enemies and cultural corruption. This would hurt them for the rest of their existence.
We, as christians, do the same thing. We are involved in behavior that doesn’t disqualify us from being a christian, but it dilutes and weakens our faith. The name carnal christians was given years ago (1 Cor 3:3-KJV).
Just like this tribe put itself in danger because of the immediate payoff (good grass), so we can be involved with things that hurt us. What are some examples? Devoting too little time with God. This makes us spiritually weak and cuts us off from His blessings. Over involvement in gray areas. This also dilutes our faith. Immature behavior; verse 3 from the previous paragraph speaks of this. There was envying and divisions among the people. God wants us to be “the bigger person”. There are many more examples. Much of this is personal, as God gives us different freedoms.
How does this hurt us? In John 10:10, Jesus speaks of giving us abundant life. We get that as we are walking with Him. We listen to Him through prayer, the bible and bible teaching. We yield to His lordship. We do what He says. It’s not burdensome (Matt 11:29). As we walk with Him, we feel His presence and are flooded with His joy (Romans 8:16). This is what makes our faith wonderful. Stopping short of this is claiming an alegiance, but missing the benefit. It’s an empty experience.
Lord, help us to yield to You and partake of Your fulness. Give us the strength to not stop short of it.