Articles
Do Not Be Quick To Judge
Do Not Be Quick To Judge
"If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame" (Proverbs 18:13). We should not jump to conclusions or be hasty in judgment. In particular we need to give heed to this in our judgments of people's motives.
Consider the event in Numbers 32 where Moses has a confrontation with the tribes that wanted to have their land on 'this side of the river'. This takes place while Moses was yet alive and before Israel crossed the Jordan river. Verses 1-5 explain the request of Reuben and Gad to be given the land on 'this side' of the Jordan river. They did it openly before the chiefs of the congregation. They explained the need as being land for the cattle. Then the problematic request: "Do not take us across the Jordan" (vs. 5).
Moses takes this as cowardice to go and fight with their brethren in the taking of the land. Moses having made his conclusion on their motive chastises them before all.
James Smith summarized Moses rebuke of them saying: "Moses was obviously angry with this request. In his reply to the Gadites and Reubenites he made the following points: (1) For their countrymen to go to war in Canaan while they sat idle in Transjordan would be unfair. (2) By choosing to remain in Transjordan they were discouraging the others from claiming the Promised Land beyond Jordan. (3) The wandering in the wilderness was punishment for the discouragement which the negative report of the spies had produced at Kadesh. (4) They were a “brood of sinners” like their fathers and their proposal would make God even more angry with Israel. (5) They would be at fault if Israel refused to follow God into Canaan and consequently meet with destruction in the wilderness (32:6–15). " (James Smith, The Pentateuch)
That was one take upon their request. But Moses was wrong, Moses had jumped to a conclusion and misjudged their motives. Or so I thought.
This was my first take on this. I quickly saw that Moses was being hasty and judgmental. Then it dawned on me, perhaps I am the one being hasty in my judgment of Moses. I tried to put a spin on their statement (vs. 5) that also 'judged' their motive! I read into their request that they were asking to RETURN to this land after they had helped their brethren take the land of promise. They didn't say that. I must admit I was trying to help them out a little and put a positive spin on their request. However, in doing so I had judged the very motive of Moses. There is no prejudice like prejudice against prejudice.
I read into their verses 16-19 that they were explaining that their request was NOT that they 'not be taken over the Jordan' but was rather, let us RETURN after we fight. I took as the explanation of their intent on asking not to be taken over the Jordan to fight. Talk about reading something INTO the text that is not there.
On further thought, I now think Moses was correct all along. He doesn't apologize at their 'explanation' because it was not needed. They indeed had said: "Do not make us cross the Jordan." Their response in verses 16-19 was not an explanation of their true intent and motive in asking not to cross the Jordan with their brethren but rather is the 'proof of repentance' at the preaching of Moses. They realized he was correct. They now offer to go with their brethren but ask that they THEN be allowed to return and possess the land on 'this side of the river'. Moses agrees but then warns them that their failure to go and fight would be 'sinning against the LORD' (vs 23). He then adds: "be sure your sin will find you out."
I take it that Moses was right. I also take it that my first take on this was bad judgment. We need to be careful in our judgments. We are just not very good judges of motives in that we aren't always good judges of actions.
