Vol. XL March 4, 2008 No. 3

Loyalty

by Tom McLemore

“They answered Joshua: ‘All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses! Whoever rebels against your orders and disobeys your words, whatever you command, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.’” (Joshua 1:16-18).

These are the words of the warriors of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. Their story is fascinating. They desired the land on the east side of the Jordan for their allotment, but they could possess it only on the pledge that they would fight with the rest of the Israelites in conquering the last on the west side of the Jordan until it was all conquered. Then they could return home and settle down.

Another significant fact about them is that they would go out in front of the rest of Israel in the process of conquering the land. Reflect upon this. They would be fighting for land they would not inhabit. They would be taking the brunt of the battle for land they would not inhabit. They would have to be away from their families and defer enjoying their own land for many years. How is it to be explained? One might gather that the land on the east of the Jordan was some fine land! Another matter–these two and one half tribes were constantly under suspicion. Moses was suspicious of them and gave them stern warning. In Numbers 32, the ordinarily meek Moses lashed out with harsh invectives, accusing them of discouraging the people, as the ten spies had at Kadesh-Barnea forty years earlier. He called them a “brood of sinners,” even before they would have an opportunity to prove that they would be loyal. Now, as the second generation is about to take on the conquest of the promised land, Joshua wants to make certain of their fulfilling their pledge.

Then after the land was conquered, the other nine and one half tribes were suspicious of their monument which they erected with the noblest of intentions (Joshua 22). Again, they must have thought it worth it all in order to inherit the land on the east side of the Jordan. There seems to be no complaining about the conditions, there was no overreacting in response to the suspicions, and even when they were on the brink of civil war, they were most desirous of avoiding any altercations. Despite all this, they assured Joshua of their absolute loyalty. And in the end, they had made good on their word. For them, there would be enjoyment of their own inheritance only after all Israel inherited!

It seems to me that one has to be impressed with the nobility of these two and one half tribes. They had high and holy values, and they were willing to pay a tremendous price for what they valued. And their loyalty was unconditional– pledged at the beginning, and fulfilled to the end. There was no “every man for himself” mentality among them. This was a group loyalty in which it was “all for one and one for all.” They would see to it that all of them were loyal. They were serious about that, too. No rebellion whatsoever would be tolerated. Their goal was to lend their total support to their leader.

These two and one half tribes realized that even the best leader can never lead forth more effectively than when he is sure of the loyalty of those who follow. This loyalty the two and one half tribes pledged to the utmost. They desired for Joshua to succeed. Therefore, they vouchsafed their loyalty and offered it as a basis for Joshua to have courage and strength for the task. Their wish was for Israel to succeed, and their wish was manifested in their loyalty to Israel’s leader who had been appointed by God as Moses before him.

What a wonderful concept! Loyalty is a fine thing, and there is no greater loyalty than to the Lord God Almighty, his Son Jesus Christ, and his people. Imagine what the capabilities of the church would be if all members possessed this attitude! How much might be accomplished if every member was unconditionally loyal to Christ and the God-ordained leadership of the church and to the success of the church as a whole! Just think of what new enthusiasm and reinvigoration would possess the hearts of elders and deacons and ministers if there were more tribes of this sort in the local churches!

Just dream for a moment of what would happen if the members of the local churches prayed to God with such words: “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go”... if Christians came in groups to the elders and deacons of local congregations and offered their support with these words: “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.”

We might not stop there, but we could contemplate what an effect that attitude of loyalty might have if such tribes were represented in marriages, in households, in schools, in agencies, in businesses, in nations! What sacrifices and acts of noble heroism might such a loyalty inspire and produce! What far reaching effects might be felt if there were more who were so unselfish and so committed to the general well-being!

I want to make this type of loyalty mine, and I hope you do as well. I pray that the church as a whole and congregations in particular will seek to cultivate this noble grace. I am grateful that thousands of young people among us will be concentrating on this theme during the coming year. May God bless every step and aspiration toward this loyalty. May we always remember the promise of our blessed Lord Jesus: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

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