Cocooning is that urge to just take care of you and yours. We undergoing a huge surge in cocooning. It is all the rave being pushed by media and influencers and all sorts of folks.
But we don’t need much of a push to want to hunker down and ignore the world out there.
As the twelve tribes are on the verge of leaving the wilderness journey and traverse the Jordan River, two tribes decide they’re good. They are fine where they are and do not want to travel any further.
“The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and said, “let this land be given . . . as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.” (Numbers 32:1-5)
They want their inheritance now (v. 19). They do not want to wait to settle in. They want to take care their economic well-being. They want to protect their women and children.
Now, these are not bad inclinations. These are the responsible inclinations of family leaders looking after their own.
Problem is that they were not just on their own. They belong to the whole family of God, the twelve tribes of Israel, that Moses has led these many years.
This obstinate, rebellious people has vexed the LORD. Moses points out that when the LORD invited them to go forward into a new land, their leaders were among the worst who discouraged the Israelites from trusting the LORD.
Moses calls them out. “Here you are, you brood of sinners”; once again you are talking about turning away from following him – because you want to just to get your finances going and your families protected. You want your inheritance, your promise from the LORD now, and will abandon the other tribes to fend for themselves.
Backed into a corner, looking selfish and foolish, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, offer a solution. They agree to go with the rest of Israel in their struggle against their foes. They agree they will accompany them in their journey to receive the LORD’s inheritance.
As Christians we have received our inheritance from the LORD. We have received the riches of his glorious inheritance of the Kingdom of Christ (Eph 1:14, 18, 5:5, 1 Cor 15:50, 1 Pet 1:4)
The Father . . . has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Col 1:12).
As people loyal to Christ, we cannot simply sit back satisfied that we got ours. As the people of God we are never called to cocoon to protect ourselves from the harsh realities of this unpredictable, sin-soaked world. To simply sit back, to do so is sinning against the Lord (v.23).
Rather, as a baptized Christ follower, you have received your inheritance so you are called to struggle with others to receive theirs. You receive your inheritance of the Kingdom to be empowered to struggle with others and help others.
- Who do you need to walk alongside of that is in a spiritual battle?
- What boundaries do you need to cross over to fight the spiritual foe?
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Pastor Douglas
Out of the Kiddie Pool 
Leave a Reply