A Witness Between Us that the Lord is God
As I was studying the book of Joshua tonight, I found an exciting story. As I read it, I couldn’t help but think that this is how the church today should behave.
In the time of Joshua, Israel conquered many nations by the hand of God. They faced thousands and killed them all. They lived their lives constantly reminded of how faithfully God had fulfilled every promise He made.
Alter all of the battles for land were done and each tribe of Israel had been given their inheritance (in the form of promised land), the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (known as the Eastern Tribes) headed across the Jordan river from the other tribes to the land they had been given on the other side. Though this river would separate them from the other tribes that made up the nation of Israel, it did not change the fact that they were a part of Israel.
Joshua blessed the Eastern Tribes as they left for their inherited lands. He said to them,
“Now that the Lord our God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lords gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” (Joshua 22:4-5)
After this and some blessings, the tribes packed up and headed home. When they got to the Jordan, they stopped and built an altar to the Lord. It was built on the Israelite side of the Jordan and the Israelites were alarmed. They thought that the Eastern Tribes had built and altar for themselves or for some false God’s. the Israelites suited up and headed to the border prepared to stop the Eastern Tribes from turning from God and causing His wrath upon them all.
When they arrived, they warned the Eastern tribes of the consequences of false religions and of building altars to worship oneself. They alerted them of the true wrath of God and reminded them of many past times when the community was punished for the sins of one. But instead of just going to town on the Eastern Tribes and destroying them right off the bat without understanding the reasons for the altar, they did this bizarre thing: they offered comfort and listened.
“…are you now turning away from the Lord? If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. If the land you possess is defiles, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle stand, and share the land with us….” (Joshua 22:18-19)
See their response: they ask questions to understand the motives of the action, they warn out of good intentions, and then they offer solace.
How many of the stereotypes of Christians today contradict this response? Aren’t there so many ideas about Christians that paint a picture of a group of people ready to point fingers and condemn people for their actions without knowing a thing about them? More than just ideas and stereotypes, aren’t there so many Christians who do this today?
Well, look what happens here in Joshua 22:21-29.
The Eastern Tribes then explain themselves. They emotionally explain that it was never their intention to rebel and that, in fact, they are doing the opposite of rebelling. They were not building and altar in competition with the true tabernacle of the Lord, they were building a reminder for the future generations. They even say, “If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offering and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.” (Joshua 22:23)
They go on to explain that they built the altar for the future generations to know that the tribes across the Jordan worship the same God. They built the altar so that there would be a physical reminder to all that, though a river separated them, they were still one nation, one family. So, this thing that they did to get the Israelite army ready to kill them was actually a way for them to be forever connected as family with good intentions.
The Israelites response was exactly what it should have been. They were excited and all joined together to name the altar “A Witness Between Us that the Lord is God.” (Joshua 22:34)
The Western Israelites could have taken the words of the Eastern Tribes as lies to cover up a sin, they could have assumed they were protecting themselves, but they did not. They looked at the men and women who also loved and served the Lord of Israel and said, “You know what, that is a great idea! We need a connection so our kids will never have reason to wage war against one another. We all know that the Lord is God! That is what really matters so this altar is great!” then they went home rejoicing and praising God because of the common knowledge and faith in God (Joshua 22:33).
I think more Christians should do this today. Yeah everyone has their own doctrine and sets of guidelines. Some are easy going. Some are harsh and strict. Some are wrong and some are right (though none of us will know 100% who is who until we ask our Savior in eternity). But I think that the Kingdom of God could only grow stronger is we asked questions, listened, and offered one another help/advice instead of persecuting the church down the road without ever having set foot inside. That just makes sense and I believe the Scriptures back that up…
God gave us examples. It might be a good idea to follow them.
In the time of Joshua, Israel conquered many nations by the hand of God. They faced thousands and killed them all. They lived their lives constantly reminded of how faithfully God had fulfilled every promise He made.
Alter all of the battles for land were done and each tribe of Israel had been given their inheritance (in the form of promised land), the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (known as the Eastern Tribes) headed across the Jordan river from the other tribes to the land they had been given on the other side. Though this river would separate them from the other tribes that made up the nation of Israel, it did not change the fact that they were a part of Israel.
Joshua blessed the Eastern Tribes as they left for their inherited lands. He said to them,
“Now that the Lord our God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lords gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” (Joshua 22:4-5)
After this and some blessings, the tribes packed up and headed home. When they got to the Jordan, they stopped and built an altar to the Lord. It was built on the Israelite side of the Jordan and the Israelites were alarmed. They thought that the Eastern Tribes had built and altar for themselves or for some false God’s. the Israelites suited up and headed to the border prepared to stop the Eastern Tribes from turning from God and causing His wrath upon them all.
When they arrived, they warned the Eastern tribes of the consequences of false religions and of building altars to worship oneself. They alerted them of the true wrath of God and reminded them of many past times when the community was punished for the sins of one. But instead of just going to town on the Eastern Tribes and destroying them right off the bat without understanding the reasons for the altar, they did this bizarre thing: they offered comfort and listened.
“…are you now turning away from the Lord? If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. If the land you possess is defiles, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle stand, and share the land with us….” (Joshua 22:18-19)
See their response: they ask questions to understand the motives of the action, they warn out of good intentions, and then they offer solace.
How many of the stereotypes of Christians today contradict this response? Aren’t there so many ideas about Christians that paint a picture of a group of people ready to point fingers and condemn people for their actions without knowing a thing about them? More than just ideas and stereotypes, aren’t there so many Christians who do this today?
Well, look what happens here in Joshua 22:21-29.
The Eastern Tribes then explain themselves. They emotionally explain that it was never their intention to rebel and that, in fact, they are doing the opposite of rebelling. They were not building and altar in competition with the true tabernacle of the Lord, they were building a reminder for the future generations. They even say, “If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offering and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.” (Joshua 22:23)
They go on to explain that they built the altar for the future generations to know that the tribes across the Jordan worship the same God. They built the altar so that there would be a physical reminder to all that, though a river separated them, they were still one nation, one family. So, this thing that they did to get the Israelite army ready to kill them was actually a way for them to be forever connected as family with good intentions.
The Israelites response was exactly what it should have been. They were excited and all joined together to name the altar “A Witness Between Us that the Lord is God.” (Joshua 22:34)
The Western Israelites could have taken the words of the Eastern Tribes as lies to cover up a sin, they could have assumed they were protecting themselves, but they did not. They looked at the men and women who also loved and served the Lord of Israel and said, “You know what, that is a great idea! We need a connection so our kids will never have reason to wage war against one another. We all know that the Lord is God! That is what really matters so this altar is great!” then they went home rejoicing and praising God because of the common knowledge and faith in God (Joshua 22:33).
I think more Christians should do this today. Yeah everyone has their own doctrine and sets of guidelines. Some are easy going. Some are harsh and strict. Some are wrong and some are right (though none of us will know 100% who is who until we ask our Savior in eternity). But I think that the Kingdom of God could only grow stronger is we asked questions, listened, and offered one another help/advice instead of persecuting the church down the road without ever having set foot inside. That just makes sense and I believe the Scriptures back that up…
God gave us examples. It might be a good idea to follow them.
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