March 21- On the Wrong Side of the Tracks

March 21, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Numbers 33:40-35:34; Luke 5:12-28;
Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 11:23

I'm still the little Southern girl from the wrong side of the tracks who really didn't feel like she belonged. ~Faye Dunaway

Numbers 33:40-35:34

When I was in elementary school we lived in a neighborhood near some railroad tracks.  Back in those days kids would wander far and wide after school or on the weekends playing in the surrounding areas.  Sometimes a friend and I would walk to a local gas station and convenience store called Tip Top.  I loved to go to Tip Top because I would load up on candy whenever I was there.  The long walk home was a chance to look in my brown paper sack and pick out penny candy to munch on the way home.  Near this store were the railroad tracks.  On our side of the tracks the homes were nice and neat with manicured lawns and gardens filled with flowers.  On the other side of the tracks the houses were smaller, run down, and the only flowers were plastic bouquets set in rusty buckets along with the other junk that was laying around in the yards.  As kids, we knew that you didn't want to live on the other side of the tracks.

Today in our reading two and a half tribes from the nation of Israel decide that they want to live on the other side of the tracks.  Actually, they want to stay on the east side of the Jordan River and not cross over into the Promised Land.  Moses is very displeased with this request.  The tribes of Reuben and Gad owned vast amounts of livestock.  As Moses allocated land, they requested to stay in this territory because the land was excellent for raising livestock.  Moses is worried that the men in these tribes are trying to get out of having to go into battle with the other tribes against the Canaanites.  Moses did not want the nation of Israel to be punished again by God and  repeat forty years in the wilderness because of cowardice about going into the Promised Land.  The leaders of Reuben and Gad assure Moses that they intend to fight with the other tribes, and during the battles, they intend to leave their wives and children in fortified cities they will build. Moses is pleased with this answer.  The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh secure their cities and stay in this area. 

What lessons can we learn from this story?  Not everyone is willing to live in the Promised Land.  Not everyone claims full possession of God's blessings in their life.  Some people are bound and determined that their circumstances are comfortable and secure.  They do not want to risk change or put faith in the promise of something they cannot see.  We see the descendants of the tribe of Gad in the New Testament.  They are the Gadarenes in whose land Jesus sends the legion of demons into the pigs.  The pigs that jump off the cliff are being raised by Jews who descend from the tribe of Gad.  Jews raising pigs.  Something is wrong with this picture.  The choices of their forefathers result in their being out of God's will.  Our choices matter.  Live your life claiming God's promises by faith. Be willing to live on the right side of the tracks.

Moses records an itinerary of every place that the Jews camped during their forty years in the wilderness.  Are you surprised at the details of his report?  What can we learn from this?  God was with the Israelites every step of the way while they wandered.  He is with us, every step of the way in our lives.  One day the record of our lives will be read at the end of all time.  We matter.  God is watching and recording the events. And more than just watching, He is going through life with us.  Do you realize this?  Are you leaning on Him in the wilderness and on the mountain tops?  He loves you. 

Luke 4:31-5:11

Still empowered by the Holy Spirit, Jesus moves the headquarters of his ministry to Capernum instead of Nazareth.  He continues to teach in the synagogues on the Sabbath.  Demons continue to screech that he is the Son of God and that he has come to destroy them.  Jesus silences the demons because he still has much that he wants to teach and he does not want the crowds to try to make him an earthly king.

Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus heals Peter's mother from a fever that is raging in her body.  She is instantly healed and is able to cook a meal for everyone.  One day at the Sea of Galilee people are pressing in on Jesus to hear him teach.  He borrows a boat from Peter, who is a fisherman, and stands in the boat to speak to the crowd.  After speaking, Jesus tells Peter that he should get in the boat and cast his nets for a catch.  Peter says, "We fished all night and caught nothing."  Peter obeys Christ and catches enough fish to risk sinking both boats.  Peter is humbled by this experience and declares his sinfulness before Jesus.  Jesus confirms that Peter will become a fisher of men.  Peter leaves his fishing career after this amazing success to follow Jesus by faith into the Promised Land of the Christian life.

Do God's blessings in your life create humility in you?  Do you see your sinfulness in the face of God's abundance given to you?  If you are humble, God can use you as a fisher of men.  Are you willing?

Psalm 64:10

Vs. 9 Says that everyone will stand in awe of God, proclaiming His mighty acts.  Peter did this in his life.

Proverbs 11:22

"A woman who is beautiful, but lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig's snout." 

Does this remind you of some of our tv celebrity girls who are physically beautiful, but have no discretion?  How about our young girls who are sexting or posting lewd photos on facebook....no discretion.

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton
© 2011