March 7

Numbers 31-32

That the Gadites and Ruebenites didn't want their share of the promised land seems incredulous! It wasn't from fear of the inhabitants.  They were willing to help fight and overcome these for the rest of Israel. So, why didn't they want to move? I think that they had gotten comfortable where they were, and they didn't like change. There are those who dislike change to such a degree that they will not change, even when the change is clearly beneficial.

I have seen this in churches all my life. When church leadership has made a decision to make a change for the good of the flock, there are almost always a few who resist. Their resistance comes because they are comfortable with the status quo, it is simply the way it has always been, and they see no reason to change. Now, I sympathize with them if the change is without purpose, or is clearly against God's will. But, if it just makes them uncomfortable, they need to follow the example of the Ruebenites and Gadites; stay where you're comfortable, while continuing to fight the good fight with those who have moved on.

One of our elders recently demonstrated this principle when I shared what a yong man at our evening study had told me. The young man said that he really liked our worship services, but his wife isn't comfortable with the praise team. This elder wisely stated that they needed to go to church where they are both comfortable. That's the beauty we find in the diversity of the church.