March 30 - Joshua 22:1-24:33

Good morning everyone,

In our reading today we will finish up the book of Joshua, which while one of my favorite books anyway, was especially fun for me this year. God showed me many new things as day to day the characters came to life on the pages. It is my hope you too enjoyed the story and look forward to Judges as much as I do; but I am getting ahead of myself, we have a few chapters to finish up first.

We will begin this morning with Joshua summoning the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh to commend them for being as good as their word and not deserting their fellow Israelites in battle and to let them know they can go home to their families on the other side of the river. Joshua does give them a reminder to, vs. 5 “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 obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” 

While on the way home the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh had apparently been doing some thinking and allowed a little bit of paranoia to enter their heads. Afraid that future generations may forget that those on the east and west side of the river were on the same team they built a replica of the stone alter, certainly not for burnt offerings but
to be a witness for generations that follow. In chapter 24:28, we read that when Joshua puts up a large stone he too called the stone to be a witness against them if they are untrue to God. “What!?” You’re saying, “A rock a witness?” I know … right! That stopped me in my reading for a moment but then I remembered that in Luke when the Pharisees wanted Jesus to make His disciples be quiet Jesus said said to them “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”  Even the stones will cry out! Thought I have never seen one do so, I am pretty confident stones can talk. So, now when you are out walking and you happen upon someone chatting it up with a rock you won’t look at them in quite the same way as you did last week, right?

Now, when the Israelites first heard about the alter they reacted in a way that is a perfect picture of how we as Christians should NOT behave. We’re told 22:11-12. “And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar near the Jordan on the Israelite side, the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.” What does that break down to? They “heard”, listened to gossip, formed an opinion and then got angry and attacked on that opinion. That is always how the enemy will try to divide us. What can start off as an enthusiastic “hey did you see?” can explode into an out and out fabrication with just a few passings of the rumor. May I suggest that first, off don’t listen to rumors, if it is not kind, not edifying we should not be listening to it; also, know that what you are acting on is the truth, and the context is accurate. This can avoid a lot of hurt feelings and embarrassment. Make sense?

Just one other thing today, I find myself wondering why would you want to be like the tribe of Reuben, Gad or the half tribe of Manasseh? Now matter how lush the grazing fields, how prosperous the town, how much better the economy, why would you want to separate yourself from the body of Christians on the other side of the river? Why would you want to settle for “almost” instead of going the extra preverbal mile and having all God wanted to bless you with? Being so far on the outside of the main body will prove to be disastrous for Rueben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. They will, indeed allow the gods of the world to infiltrate their lives, devoting less and less time to God in heaven. When we get to 1 Chronicles 5 we’ll read how because they were unfaithful, God allows the Assyrians come in, overtake them, then march them out of the city in a most humiliating way. 

Over and over and over again we read to “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 obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” God loves you. He LOVES us! God does not lie, so it is because He loves us that He makes us aware of consequence of choice. Be mindful of what “gods” you are allowing to infiltrate your lives. Surround yourself with like minded people and be in God’s loving and dependable Word. That is the best place ever to be! Amen?

I pray you have a great day and to God be the glory!

God bless you all …