Numbers 32:1 Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had an exceedingly large number of livestock. So when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that it was indeed a place suitable for livestock,
Taking “no” as an answer from God is very disappointing. After mustering all our faith and travailing in prayer there are times when God says, “no” or “wait”. We don’t mind waiting if we know how long we must wait. After waiting for days, weeks or months when a door closes it crushes us. When God says “no” to an ardent petition, it means that our request was not God’s 1st best. He will stop us from pursuing the 2nd best.
When the Israelite hoard was at the threshold of the Promised Land, Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh ganged up together and petitioned to stay back on the east of Jordan as they had an exceedingly large number of livestock. The grass looked greener on the east side of Jordan and they were lured to the pasture land. So Moses gave it to them. (Numbers 32:33). They had not even explored the land the Lord had promised but wanted to settle in a place that looked luscious and verdant. They paid the price for settling in the land that their eyes lusted for as they were exposed to the enemy and were the first to be attacked by the Assyrians king Tiglath-Pileser III, in 740 B.C (2 Kings 15:29). Tiglath-Pileser III carried away the able bodied and intelligent Reubenites, the Gadites, and half of Manasseh as slaves to the cities of Assyria.
Bible Scholars believe that the land of the Gadarenes where Jesus set the demon-possessed man free (Mark 3:18) was the early settlement of these 2 ½ tribes. During the time of Jesus, this land was polluted by pagan worship. It is believed that the Gadarenes were the half-breeds of the descendants of Gad but were infiltrated by the Assyrians and Greeks settlers. When we go for the 2nd best we will pay a costly price for the wrong choice.
When God says ‘no’:
1. No: When God says ‘no’ to a plea, we must have the maturity to say ‘thank you Lord’. God will not keep anything that is good away from us. God knows what’s best for us.
2. Nothing: We lose ‘nothing’ when God says ‘no’. Many a times we think if we lose this job opportunity or a proposal that we will never get a better one. The door God shuts is not God’s best. He has something much better, bigger and brighter waiting for us.
3. Notorious: The Lord God can see into decades and centuries that we cannot see. The two and half tribes could not see the danger and their vulnerability to the enemies. Their notorious choice dissipated their future generation.
Wait for God’s 1st best and don’t rush to settle for the 2nd best.
Matthew 7:11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I never rush into any decision but wait patiently for your 1st best. Amen
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