“And he (Joshua) spake unto them (the Tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of Manasseh), saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.” Joshua 22:8
Yes, even though the men (soldiers) of the 2 1/2 Tribes who did NOT choose to live in the Promised Land returned to their homes (their wives and families) east of Jordan … they were awarded their share of the “spoils” of war, the “gatherings” (“booty”) of seven years of battle!
Joshua to those men: “Return with MUCH RICHES unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.”
Wow!
God had previously allowed (legislated) this benefit (this perk) to the people of Israel … as per Numbers 31:26-27. “Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation: and divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation.”
These (apparently vast) holdings (their portion of them anyway) are now being meted to the 2 1/2 Tribes. In today’s Verse, our Text, I mean. After all, these men had left their families and cattle behind (across the Jordan, just short of the Land God granted the whole Nation) and had fought for the other 9 1/2 tribes, helping them conquer their lands!
God is so good!
“The men are coming back home,” so thought the wives and boys and girls of these 2 1/2 Tribes (again, Reuben and Gad and half of Manasseh) … with lots of riches too!
Yes, (elderly) Moms and Dads and (juvenile) Sons and Daughters would get to share in the riches as well! Even the men who could not fight (due to disabilities or old age, etc.) would get a share!
Wow!
To this degree … and in a specific use of the Law of Moses … “As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.” 1 Samuel 30:24
Look … the man (the solider, warrior) who risked his life and fought gallantly … of course, will be rewarded with the spoils!
But now we learn … those who stayed home “by the stuff” (taking care of the non-military things there) will be rewarded too, equally rewarded!
Astounding!
And the point to this Lesson today?
Simply this. Ponder this Truth with me, please.
The missionary (spiritual warrior) who goes to a foreign field (for example) and “fights the good fight of faith” … will be rewarded by Jesus (of course) at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Certainly!
But the people who stay behind (keeping home base strong), financially supporting that missionary or faithfully praying for him … will be rewarded as well, having “stayed by the stuff!” Will be (looks like) equally rewarded!
This is true (I believe) for those who stay by an Evangelist’s side, as well!
Hallelujah!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell