Joshua 22 (3)

Read Joshua 22.13-20.

Reflect.
1.  Is it a good idea in judging others to presume to know their motives before you’ve even talked with them?   

2.   What is the main concern of this delegation?

Think about it.
Cooler heads prevailed, and plans for war are put on hold. Instead, the tribes on the west side of the Jordan River send a delegation comprised of tribal heads and the high priest. But this is not a fact-finding delegation. The people of Israel have already made up their minds about this altar, and they presume to know the motives of the two-and-a-half tribes in erecting it. They do not come to inquire, but to accuse and admonish.

We note that the delegation comes on behalf of “the whole congregation of the LORD” and not as from the Lord Himself. There is still no indication that anyone has thought to consult the Lord about this matter. The people gathered at Shiloh assume that their brethren east of the Jordan River have been unfaithful to the Lord, have turned away from Him, even that they have rebelled against Him (v. 16). Wouldn’t it have been a more brotherly course to begin with a question? “Can you explain to us…?”

This delegation sounds very sanctimonious and self-righteous to me. There’s even a hint of self-interest in their admonition: “if you rebel today against the LORD, that tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel” (v. 18). That is, us (cf. v. 16). 

They are generous enough, at least, to offer the tribes in the east a place among them west of the Jordan, but even that offer sounds a bit condescending to me, with its implications that somehow the territories east of the Jordan might be “unclean” (v. 19).

This whole situation could have been avoided if people would simply have talked with one another before the “great, impressive altar” was constructed. We’re being given a glimpse into the hearts of God’s people, and what we see there is discouraging.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  In judging others with righteous judgment (Jn. 7.24), we need to guard against false assumptions. How can we do that? 

2.  Put yourself in the place of the two-and-a-half tribes, hearing this lecture from the delegation. How would you have felt? Would this have endeared you to these brethren? Explain.

3.  Overall, we can say that the tribes west of the Jordan River needed to do this, to send this delegation. We commend them for that. But if you could have set out a plan for the delegation to follow, would you have offered them any different advice than what we read in these verses? Explain.

“Just as if it had been known that this second altar was opposed to the one only altar of God, they begin with upbraiding them, and that in a very harsh and severe manner. They thus assume it as confessed, that the two tribes had built the altar with a view of offering sacrifices upon it. In this they are mistaken, as it was destined for a different use and purpose.” John Calvin,Commentary on Joshua (1509-1564AD)

Lord, give me a gracious and understanding heart, so that I…

Pray Psalm 141.
Meditate on the people you are likely to see today, and ask the Lord to guard your mouth against sin and to give you grace in all your speech (Col. 4.6).

Psalm 141 (Tutro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
O Lord, we call to You in prayer! To us come quickly; hear our cry!

Receive our prayer as incense sweet, our lifted hands as a sacrifice!

Lord, set a guard upon my mouth; let not my heart to evil bend,
Nor let me work iniquity in company with wicked men.

Lord, let a righteous man rebuke – a kindness this shall surely be.
Like healing oil upon my head, Your sweet rebuke shall be to me.

When to the judgment wicked men by God are cast, our words shall tell:
Like broken sod or fresh plowed ground, so shall their bones be cast to hell!

We lift our eyes to You, O Lord, and refuge seek; Lord, save our soul!
From every trap and snare redeem; deliver us and make us whole.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).