March 10 / Joshua 20-22

Joshua 20-22

And when they came to the region of the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of imposing size. … And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them.

Joshua 22:10,12

I’m pretty sure that the first time I read this story, my first reaction was, “Say what? War? What’s the problem?” The problem is that the Torah forbids offering sacrifices anywhere other than on the LORD’s one altar at the Tabernacle. (See Leviticus 17:8–9; Deuteronomy 12:13–14.) The problem is the risk of idolatry. This extra altar is seen as a declaration of intent on the part of the eastern tribes to violate the covenant, to leave the LORD and go their own way. So a big “Bravo!” to the people of Israel for their zeal in guarding the faith here.

But when Phinehas and the chiefs of the western tribes confront Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they learn that the altar’s actual intended purpose is exactly the opposite of rebellion. The eastern tribes do not intend for the altar to be used for sacrifices at all, but rather to be a marker of remembrance that the eastern tribes are united with the western tribes, that they likewise have a portion in the LORD. So a big “Bravo!” to the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for their desire to protect their future generations from exclusion from Israel in worshipping the LORD.

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the people of Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is in our midst, because you have not committed this breach of faith against the LORD. Now you have delivered the people of Israel from the hand of the LORD.” … The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the LORD is God.”

Joshua 22:31,34

And so civil war is averted and all of Israel now has a monument testifying that the LORD is God.

So what lessons can we learn here? Well, for one, clear communication goes a long way toward good relations. The entire incident is essentially a misunderstanding that could have been avoided by better communication. What if, instead of taking it upon themselves to build the altar and leave without explanation, the eastern tribes had consulted with the western tribes first? What if they had gone to Phinehas and Joshua earlier and expressed their concerns of future exclusion from Israel? Might the leadership of all of Israel then have been able to agree upon a suitable safeguard? I expect that someone might well have proposed a different monument — a heap of stones, perhaps, as we have seen before (See Gen. 31:43-50; Joshua 4:1-10.) — something that would not be so easily mistaken as a violation of the covenant. Clear and timely communication can avoid any number of problems.

Another lesson to learn is to avoid making assumptions. Get all the facts before acting precipitously. Here both sides make assumptions. The eastern tribes assume that the western tribes will treat them unfairly and exclude them from worship. The main body of Israel, on the other hand, assumes evil intent on the part of the eastern tribes in building the altar. Given Israel’s track record, neither of these assumptions is particularly outlandish or unreasonable. Both make decent sense. But both are completely wrong. Fortunately, the western tribes do not just attack straightaway but instead do the right thing and have a conversation to clarify the truth.

So how about us? How might we do a better job of communicating in our own lives? What assumptions might we be making that contribute to misunderstandings and conflict? Do you have any broken relationships that need mending? Is there anyone you have wronged or offended to whom you need to apologize and from whom you need forgiveness? Go talk to them. Or is there someone who has wronged you, who needs your forgiveness? Go talk to them. Don’t let misunderstandings or wounds just sit there festering. Go talk it out.