Numbers 31-32 The Easy Out

February 24th, Numbers 31-32

       For you baseball lover's maybe your thinking the easy  out is a reference to baseball. It certainly can be, but the story today seems to center on the easy way verses the hard way. The 12 tribes will one day inherit their land. Reuben and Gad seem to have found their herdsman home on the east side of the Jordan. When it's time to take over the promised land will they help in the fight or will they take the easy route and stay at home.
       It's clear from the story that the fighting aged men will cross the Jordan. But it's hard isn't it. Hard to fight for something you already have. Even harder to fight for something that isn't ever going to be yours, because yours is somewhere else...no need to fight.
      It's about the greater good of the whole, it's about fighting for the benefit of another. Sacrifice for the good of someone else. These are some of the greatest themes of life. The themes of great stories and great movies. The stories of great men and women fighting for others. The stories of Schindler's List, Mother Theresa, and Jesus Christ.
       A story we're called to. To give our life as servants to others. To follow Jesus who gave his life as a ransom for all.
       To stay on the safe side of the Jordan is easy and understandable. The story of the guy who played it safe isn't a great story. A story of sacrifice is the story of Jesus Christ and the invitation to us all.