Drive In The Tent Stakes

“And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.” (Eze 47:23 AV)

 

The tribes of Israel were assigned specific territory in which to settle and homestead.  These boundaries were strictly enforced.  There was no marring the tribal inheritance.  In other words, a Jewish man was free to marry anyone he wanted regardless of tribal affiliation.  However, if a daughter of a family with no sons were to marry, she had to marry within her tribe.  This would keep her land within the tribal territory.  If she married outside her tribe, her land would revert to her new husband and transfer to another tribe.  If land were bought or sold, it had to remain in the tribe to which it was assigned.  Even more stringent was the principle of land transfer transferring to the nearest blood relative only.  This way, family territories within a tribe were also safeguarded.  When we look at the verse above, we see the stranger who has more liberty than the Hebrews in choosing where to settle.  The Gentile, who settled in the land, had a bit more liberty than the Jew, born in the land.  To be clear, sojourning here does not mean the Gentile simply shows up and desires a plot of land.  The verse previous stipulates that sojourning meant he committed by bearing children and raising a family.

It is important for people to put down roots.  Having worked with military personnel in the context of church ministry, I understand just how important, and difficult, this could be.  We worked with primarily navy families.  These families, because of the nature of their duties, were transitory.  Every three years they would transfer to a new base or would go to sea.  There were many problems associated with this lifestyle, primarily a confusion of roles in marriage and the inability to establish deep and lasting relationships.  This took an emotional toll on the children more so than the adults.  What we found is the longer a spouse stayed in that branch of service, the more it affected their children and families.  When they retired, it was difficult for them to adjust to staying put.  They would often retire near to where their extended family lived.  Sometimes, not.  A warmer climate seemed to be their first choice.  And, even though Mom and Dad eventually adjusted, it would take the children a great deal of more time.  Growing up, they never knew what it was like to have a long-term relationship.  Stability is absolutely necessary for emotional and spiritual health.

I have noticed an alarming trend in the last thirty or so years of ministry.  There is a lack of long-term commitment to a church family.  There has also been a trend where attendees outnumber actual members.  We are glad to have them.  But attending church faithfully without being a member is akin to having a relationship without the public acknowledgment of commitment.  Almost like living together without the security and commitment of the marriage vow.  The above application goes two ways.  The Hebrews were to give the sojourner who proved himself willing to subject his family to Jewish law and participate in Jewish tradition and custom and permanent home.  There was to be no prejudice.  The stranger was to be treated as one of their own.  But the stranger had to express a commitment to the process of proselytization into Jewish society.  This meant circumcision and adherence to the word of God.  Membership and commitment are at an all-time low.  We have people in the pews.  However, the church needs to pursue a more permanent commitment and the attendee must be convicted to join.

One last thought.  When they received their inheritance, they ceased to be transitory.  Church hopping was not an indication of long-term commitment. When the stranger received his inheritance, it was forever.  He didn’t hop from one tribe to the next as it pleased him.  He stayed put!