Respect The Barrier

“And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them. And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day.” (1Ch 5:25-26 AV)

It is often debated whether the two and a half tribes were supposed to settle on the east side of Jordan, or if God gave them the desire of their hearts even though that was not His first plan.  The results of that choice may give us an indication.  According to our passage above, the two and a half tribes were influenced more by their pagan neighbors than they were their own countrymen.  The river Jordan, which was supposed to be a natural barrier of separation acted as one, but in the wrong way.  Whereas it was intended to be a barrier between God’s people and the heathen, it became a barrier between God’s people.  This natural boarder, or barrier, which the LORD provided for protection against compromise and captivity became a barrier which resulted in the same.

The barriers of separation are there for our good.  In today’s ‘Christian’ culture, barriers are often maligned.  In fact, it is seen as more noble to think and act outside the box rather than in the box.  What the LORD provided as a means of protection becomes the very thing that results in great loss.  Not to those who see the barrier for what it is.  But for those who reject the barrier.  Recently, there was a story in the news of a missionary who was trying to contact a remote and protected tribe of Brazil.  The government of Brazil protects that tribe because they have had no contact with the outside world.  The reason being contact with other cultures than might bring with them disease of which the tribe had no immunity.  This has happened several times in the days of exploration wherein the exploring tribe brings with it diseases to which they have immunity that the host does not.  The barrier of an ocean or mountain range; the barrier of a desert or arctic land, work as a protection for all.

God has given the saints standards of separation that are meant for our good.  These standards of separation, or barriers that cannot be crossed, are there for our protection and for blessings.  These standards or barriers of protection are not there to merely test our willingness to obey.  They are there because the LORD knows how to bless His children.  He knows the best way or ways in which His children can enjoy the life He has given.  The result of rejecting those barriers is to be the first to be carried away captive to the ways of the world – which are always more harmful than the barrier is difficult.