Lesson date: 04/22/5857AA

This chapter speaks to me today in a special way and so I have treated this chapter differently than the rest. It causes me to reflect on my past and, believe me, it’s not pretty. It causes me to actually dig into my memories and emotions and root out my motivation for doing certain things in my life when I did. Was my motivation because of much prayer, fasting and meditation or because…well, it looks good to me? Unfortunately, many life altering decisions were predicated on the category of “Looks good to me and, oh, I’ll pray about it later, if I get time.”

The decision reached by the tribes of Gad and Re’uben may have been made after much prayer and meditation and after each receiving 55,000+ sheep, 6,000 cattle and 5,000 donkeys from the war on the Midyanites, plus what they already had. Perhaps, in all fairness to Gad and Re’uben, they sat down for a pow wow and reached the decision, “You know, if we didn’t have to dedicate so much manpower to herding thousands upon thousands of sheep, goats, donkeys and cattle we could concentrate on fighting better.” Someone may have even chimed in, “Yeah, and if we didn’t have all these kids and women to worry about too, we could do some real fighting and killing.” Do you think this is what they really thought?

Stop me if you’ve heard this one, “Father, I sure could use that new job. It would give me and the family a better life, more security and we could spend more time doing Your Work”.

Six months later the preacher comes to Tom’s door, “Hey Tom, how’s the family?”

“We’re fine preacher, thanks for asking.”

“Well, Tom, we don’t see you in church like we used to and I was worried about you.”

“Preacher, you see, I got that new job and I have to put in a lot of overtime and we just don’t have the spare time like we used to, especially since we moved into the new house. Amy is working day and night trying to get everything straight since we bought the new furniture.”

I bet you’ve heard this one before, huh? Yeah, so did I.

Let me give you a clue as to what I think was going through there minds when they made the proposal to Mosheh and El’azar: Psa_22:12 Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong ones of Bashan have encircled Me.

Many strong bulls of Bashan. Why were the bulls of Bashan so numerous, big and strong? Bashan is Mt. Hermon and it keeps snow for most of the year, 7-9 months, and then melts in spring and summer to produce thick lush grass for pastures to make bulls many and strong. I bet that snow capped money, oops, mountain sorry, had Shekel signs written in the snow.

Here is another piece of information you need to consider, the herding of the flocks was done by the women and children so it did not interfere with the activities of the men. Fifty years ago, when yours truly was in that part of the world, children 5 and 6 years old, with the help of dogs, would care for large herds of sheep and goats in rugged mountain country. Do you see why they were eager to leave the women and children behind?

I believe that the men of Gad and Re’uben started looking around at all the lush pastures and started talking amongst themselves about how a goat in the hand is better than two in the bushes. They had no idea how long it would be before the war was completed and everyone got a share of the land and in the meantime their sheep, goats, cattle and donkeys would be eating lush pature grass getting fat and having babies. In other words the possessions of this life took precedent over a long, almost forgotten promise made to Abraham about Kena’an for his descendants.

Mat 19:23 And יהושע said to His taught ones, “Truly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter into the reign of the heavens.

Mar 10:21 And יהושע, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One matter you lack: Go, sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. And come, follow Me, taking up the stake.”

Mar 10:22 But he, being sad at this word, went away grieved, for he had many possessions.

Mar 10:23 And יהושע, looking around, said to His taught ones, “How hard it is for those who have money to enter into the reign of Elohim!” (Or, even to cross the Jordan River)

It was a good plan and they pitched it to Mosheh, El’azar and the elders and Mosheh saw right through it from the beginning. He was afraid that the idea alone would be sufficient cause for a curse to fall upon Israel. Num 32:7 “Now why do you discourage the heart of the children of Yisra’ěl from passing over into the land which יהוה has given them? To Mosheh it was a sin equal to the people of Israel listening to the 10 spies’ evil report.

This brings me back to, “Be careful what you ask for because you might get it.” Why do I say that? Look: 1Ch 5:23 And the children of the half-tribe of Menashsheh dwelt in the land. They increased from Bashan to Ba‛al Ḥermon, that is, to Senir, or Mount Ḥermon.

1Ch 5:24 And these were the heads of their fathers’ houses: Ěpher, and Yishi, and Eli’ěl, and Azri’ěl, and Yirmeyah, Hoḏawyah, and Yaḥdi’ěl – mighty brave men, men of name, and heads of their fathers’ houses.

1Ch 5:25 But they trespassed against the Elohim of their fathers, and whored after the mighty ones of the peoples of the land, whom Elohim had destroyed before them.

1Ch 5:26 So the Elohim of Yisra’ěl stirred up the spirit of Pul sovereign of Ashshur, even the spirit of Tiglath-Pileser sovereign of Ashshur. And he took the Re’uḇěnites, and the Gaḏites, and the half-tribe of Menashsheh into exile, and brought them to Ḥalaḥ, and Ḥaḇor, and Hara, and the river of Gozan, unto this day.

This was 8 years before the rest of Israel was taken captive. It was as if YHVH was reminding them of the fathers’ decision to stop short of “crossing over” into the Promised Land, on the other side of the Jordan River, and as a result that shortsightedness resulted in their descendants going into captivity first. They had more sheep, goats, cattle and donkeys but it cost them their lives, and their wives and children were now slaves and the enemy now owned their livestock: Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the favourable gift of Elohim is everlasting life in Messiah יהושע our Master.

But, Chapter 32 is not all negative, there is a lesson here that we can learn and apply in our modern times. Let’s take stock of what happened: the men of Gad, Re’uben and half of the Tribe of Menashsheh armed themselves with swords and shields and now lead the way “across” the Jordan River. They were unencumbered by possessions and distractions and helped their brethren “cross over” from the side of Mitsrayim/Babylon into the Promised Land. ((I highlighted across and cross over for this reason: H5680 – עברי – ‛ibrı̂y – BDB Definition: Hebrew = “one from beyond” or one who crosses over))

They could act as point men, scouts or watchmen to lead the way because they were now able to move quickly through the troubling landscape and help their fellow Yisra’elites avoid traps and pitfalls the Enemy had set for them. The other tribes referred to them as The Pathfinders because they could point out the shortest routes, that straight and narrow route, that their busier more distracted brethren might miss because the path was so narrow and the Enemy knew that they might come this way and even camouflaged the path with briars and thorns to discourage them from trying it. This band of Yisra’elites had put on their full armor and searched out the paths that were dead ends and thus could keep the Army of YHVH from wasting time following dead ends: Eph 6:13 Because of this, take up the complete armour of Elohim, so that you have power to withstand in the wicked day, and having done all, to stand.

Eph 6:14 Stand, then, having girded your waist with truth,  and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Eph 6:15 and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace;

Eph 6:16 above all, having taken up the shield of belief with which you shall have power to quench all the burning arrows of the wicked one.

Eph 6:17 Take also the helmet of deliverance, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of Elohim,

I think this group was referred to, by Yehoshua and Kaleb, as the Foot Cavalry because, even mighty men riding swift horses couldn’t keep pace with them. Why? Because a rider on a fast horse can’t be looking for traps and obscure trails that lead to the destination because they are travelling too fast and covering too much ground and have to follow the broad path to accommodate their horses. We know where the broad path leads: Mat_7:13 “Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide – and the way is broad – that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in through it.

You see, the Foot Cavalry had left all their distractions behind and could dedicate time and attention to the details of the narrow path that they were following, so that they could take individuals down these paths and point out traps and snares that might encumber them along the way. I believe the Foot Cavalry had prepositioned men along the route and at strategic places, like signposts, which would enable those following their marked trails, so they would not become overwhelmed by the darkness of the high narrow canyons, so high and steep, that direct sunlight never touched the bottom of the canyons they walked in: Psa 23:4 When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Or, the sound of wild animals, wolves and lions, in the night that might scare the faint of heart: Mat_7:15 “But beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are savage wolves.

1Pe_5:8 Be sober, watch, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Just about the time the brother or sister was about to lose heart because of the difficulties along the narrow way, the Netzarim Way, they would round a turn or curve in the path and come in sight of another member of the Foot Cavalry who was waiting for them just to hold their hand, comfort them and give them food and drink to help them on their journey: Mar 9:41 “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My Name, because you are of Messiah, truly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.

Mat 25:35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,

It would not surprise me if Yehoshua did not place the men of the Foot Cavalry directly under the command of Kaleb because at 85 years of age Kaleb was probably the only man that could lead them and they were all under 45: Why Kaleb? Num 14:24 “But My servant Kalěḇ, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me completely, I shall bring into the land where he went, and his seed shall inherit it.

Deu 1:35 Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers,

Deu 1:36 except Kalěḇ son of Yephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and his children I give the land on which he walked, because he followed יהוה completely.’

When military men love and respect their commander they give them nicknames and make up stories about them and I suppose such was the case with these men who loved and respected their commander. You can just hear a new soldier from a different tribe, who is being shown the narrow path, asking why they were always running behind Kaleb. “We have to,” they would say, “if we don’t he will kill all the giants before we can catch up.” Jos 14:10 “And now, see, יהוה has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years since יהוה spoke this word to Mosheh while Yisra’ěl walked in the wilderness. And now, see, I am eighty-five years old today.

Jos 14:11 “Yet I am still as strong today as I was on the day that Mosheh sent me. As my strength was then, so my strength is now, for battle, and for going out and for coming in.

Jos 14:12 “And now, give me this mountain of which יהוה spoke in that day, for you heard in that day how the Anaqim were there, and that the cities were great and walled. If יהוה is with me, then I shall dispossess them, as יהוה said.”  (He did!)

There was a story told about how fast Kaleb moved. A young recruit from another tribe was following the column behind Kaleb and he turned to look back because he thought he heard a familiar noise and, when he turned back to follow the column, they were nowhere in sight because they had reached a three-way fork in the canyon and he had no idea which fork they took: Luk 9:61 And another also said, “Master, I shall follow You, but let me first say good-bye to those in my house.”

Luk 9:62 But יהושע said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the reign of Elohim.”

“I will follow you” in Hebrew is:  v’elḵa aḥarey’ḵa,  ואֵלכָּה אַחֲרֶיךָ and it comes from two root words: H1980 -Halak – הלך – BDB Definition: 1) to go, walk, come 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away 1a2) to die, live, manner of life (figuratively)

H310 – Ahar – אחר – ‘achar – BDB Definition: 1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time) 1a) as an adverb 1a1) behind (of place)

Some say that young recruit died looking for the right fork but I can assure you he did find the narrow path after many years of wandering and still rejoices about the right path, the straight path: Luk_15:9 “And having found it, she calls friends and neighbours together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost!’

What happened to the Foot Cavalry you ask? They are still out there guarding The Way. You tend to run into them when you hear the wolves and lions howl and roar in the night. Sometimes, when it feels like you can’t go another step further they are usually around the next bend with food (The Word), water and comfort. I’ve encountered them many times sometimes wearing tzitzit, sometimes not. Their generals are gone now but not before paying them a huge tribute: Jos 22:1 Then Yehoshua called for the Re’uḇěnites, and the Gaḏites, and half the tribe of Menashsheh,

Jos 22:2 and said to them, “You, you have guarded all that Mosheh the servant of יהוה commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.

Jos 22:3 “You have not left your brothers these many days, up to this day, but have guarded the Charge, the command of יהוה your Elohim.

Jos 22:4 “And now יהוה your Elohim has given rest to your brothers, as He promised them. So now, return and go to your tents and to the land of your possession, which Mosheh the servant of יהוה gave you beyond the Yarděn.

Joshua is gone and so is the cantankerous Kaleb, ready to fight at the drop of a turban or helmet but, there is a new Commander on the scene and oddly enough His Name is also Yehoshua, his followers call Him Yeshu’a for short. He Leads them through every battle. Their motto is not “Never leave a man behind”, but rather: Gal 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so complete the Torah of Messiah.

How will you recognize one of these warriors when you encounter one? You might hear them say something like: Rev 14:12 Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the commands of Elohim and the belief of יהושע. Or, maybe even something like this: 1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands.

But, whatever you do, don’t doubt their resolve. They are just as tough as their predecessors, most of them have already left family behind and, it was not out of choice but necessity and, they are willing to go the extra miles to help a fellow Israelites in distress. They bear the scars of many battles with the Enemy and their uniforms may be different, maybe torn and faded from all the battles they have fought but their Swords are still sharp because they sharpen them everyday: Heb_4:12 For the Word of Elohim is living, and working, and sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through even to the dividing of being and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

P.S. Bet you can find one in the mirror if you look real close.