Context No. 3306 of 4322 · Joshua

Joshua 1:12-18: in context

12Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying, 13“Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land. 14Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall live in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them 15until the LORD has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which the LORD your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’” 16They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses. 18Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him shall himself be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

The eastern tribes, Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, had already received their land beyond the Jordan. Joshua now holds them to the promise they made through Moses: leave your families and flocks safe here, but cross over armed ahead of your brothers, and fight until they too have rest in their land. And the tribes agree wholeheartedly: all that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

They could have settled down and left the rest of Israel to fight alone. But there is a principle of solidarity here: those who have already received their inheritance do not abandon those still struggling for theirs. Having gained their own rest, they are called to labor for their brothers' rest before returning to enjoy their own. We are not meant to settle comfortably into our own blessing while fellow believers still battle and struggle; the blessed keep fighting alongside the still-striving until all have entered in.

Having received God's blessing myself, am I willing to keep laboring alongside those still struggling, rather than settling comfortably into my own rest?

Sources

Joshua 1:14: "You shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them."
Joshua 1:16: "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go."
Galatians 6:2: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."