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tribes resolved to act promptly and earnestly; but instead of making
courteous inquiry to learn the facts in the case, they met their brethren
with censure and condemnation. Had the men of Gad and Reuben
retorted in the same spirit, war would have been the result. It is impor-
tant that laxness in dealing with sin be avoided; it is equally important
to shun harsh judgment and groundless suspicion.
No one was ever reclaimed from a wrong position by censure and
reproach, but many are thus driven further from the right path to harden
their hearts against conviction. A courteous, forbearing deportment
may save the erring.
While honestly seeking to promote the cause of true religion, the
Reubenites were misjudged and severely censured; yet they listened
with courtesy and patience to the charges of their brethren before
attempting to make their defense, and then fully explained their motives
and showed their innocence.
Even under false accusation, those in the right can afford to be
calm and considerate. God is acquainted with all that is misunderstood
and misinterpreted by men, and we can safely leave our case in His
hands. He will vindicate the cause of those who put their trust in Him.
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The prayer of Christ just before His crucifixion was that His disci-
ples might be one as He is one with the Father, that the world might
believe that God had sent Him. This touching prayer reaches down the
ages, even to our day. While we are not to sacrifice one principle of
truth, it should be our constant aim to reach this state of unity. Said
Jesus, “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have
love one to another.”
John 13:35
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