1 Chronicles 5:18, 25
The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service--able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle. But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.
It is now a common thing for Filipino homes to have at least one relative abroad. Pushed by the scarcity during and after the Martial Law years, the skilled and believed-smarter ones thought best to leave our homeland for greener pastures. Who would blame them? They’re even regarded as today’s heroes - -mainly because every dollar they send not just eased our family lives, but the general economy as well. Most of them not just survived the perils of foreign land, they succeeded in leaps thus the decision to settle there. What they do not usually admit is that it isn’t always green in winterland. Filipinos in the diaspora are often faced with depression, discrimination, and real danger. There, many realize that money, though changes everything, isn’t everything.
When the Reubenites and the Gadites first saw the Transjordan area, they immediately were drawn to its green, well-watered soil. Many say it’s the best rural scenery in Southern Syria. Seeing it suitable for their large number and livestock, they asked Moses for it to be their inheritance. God allowed it, provided that they will continue to help their brothers claim the promise land. They kept their word then went back to their chosen land to settle. There they trained themselves to become great warriors and they grew famous. The Bible made sure to note that it was because they prayed and trusted in God, and it was He who won the battles for them. But like Lot choosing the plains of Jordan for its richness despite living alongside Sodom, the two tribes and the half of Manasseh’s were exposed to pagan cultures surrounding them. And like Lot’s wife turning towards Sodom saltily consumed her, the Transjordan tribe’s compromise brought them into Assyrian exile. If only they realized early on that it wasn’t their skills, nor the soil, that’s blessing them richly, then, their chosen land could have really been a promising land.
We all want our lives to be better, best if possible. Lining down our priorities, there’s our family’s health and comfort, our kids education, our own career paths, our retirement and our parents’, and a lot others. Next question will be the means toward those ends. That’s why OFWs happened. They sought fertile soils, sometimes at the expense of family separation and their physical exhaustion caused by multiple jobs round the clock. It’s a hard exchange. And we salute them for their sacrifices. But in light of our scripture text today, our prayer is that they wouldn’t forget that although God allowed them to settle in the land of their choosing, their prosperity is still all from Him. And amidst all immoral and materialistic influences, let’s continue to pray they’d choose God and not compromise. There’s always winter in greener lands. A coldness that can only be survived in the embrace of God’s warmth. Take His hand, let Him keep you safe. Know that in Him, you're already home.
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