Joshua 22:10-20

¹⁰ When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. ¹¹ And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, ¹² the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.
¹³ So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. ¹⁴ With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.
¹⁵ When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them: ¹⁶ “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? ¹⁷ Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord! ¹⁸ And 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. ¹⁹ If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God. ²⁰ When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things, did not wrath come on the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’”

Basketball court

Have you ever done something with good purpose but was not appreciated? The basketball court at the church parking lot was intended for those who love to play basketball. But one morning, a disturbed neighbour came and complained about young people playing basketball at midnight. He suggested that something must be done (cover the ring) so that the basketball court would not be used at night. He threatened to call the police if the youth would play basketball at night.
The basketball court was intended to promote good health and sportsmanship but not appreciated by the neighbour because it was not properly used. That’s a valid complaint. There are many other things we do as believers, and no matter how good our intention could be there will still be those who cannot appreciate it.

When the eastern tribes decided to build the altar at the border of Canaan, the western tribes did not appreciate it, and they prepared to go to war against them.

1. War

¹⁰ When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. ¹¹ And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, ¹² the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.

The eastern tribes were told to go home to their inheritance at the eastern side of the Jordan River, and share their blessing to their fellow Israelites. But before they crossed the Jordan River, they built an altar there. Their intention was to prepare for the day when the western tribes might reject them as people belonging to the Lord.
The western tribes came and questioned about the altar but they were also prepared to go to war against the eastern tribes. They suspected that the eastern tribes were in rebellion against the Lord. The eastern tribes expressed their fear of the future in verse 24-25, ²⁴ “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? ²⁵ The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.

What prompted the eastern tribes to think that way? Why did they suspect that the descendants of the western tribes would cause their descendants not to fear the Lord?
Before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River to conquer Canaan, the eastern tribes appealed to Moses that they may be given the land east of Jordan River as their inheritance. Their request was not within the plan of the Lord. God’s plan was for the Israelites to live in Canaan. The eastern tribes said in Numbers 32:16, ¹⁶ “We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children.

The eastern tribes requested the land east of the Jordan River for the sake of their children. And returning from war, they were scared about the future of their children.
Moses granted their request. They received the land east of Jordan River as their inheritance when they promised to help the western tribes against the Canaanites. Their intention was for the good of everybody, both for their children and the western tribes but it turned out to be more complicated, why?
The Lord said in Numbers 33:51-53, ⁵¹ ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, ⁵² drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. ⁵³ Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.

The Lord did not promise the land east of Jordan to the Israelites. When the Lord commanded the Israelites to cross the Jordan River, take possession the land and settle in it. He never commanded that some of them will return to the land east of the Jordan. Interestingly, the Lord did not forbid them to return, or that they should not return.
Such interpretation of God’s word is prevalent among Christians. Things are that are not obviously forbidden in the Bible (smoking, gambling, lotto, credit cards or insurance) are strongly defended by those who practise them.
Things that are not mentioned in the Bible should be interpreted in light of our faith in the Lord. The eastern tribes built the altar as preventive measure and to insure that their descendant would not experience what they were scared of. The fear of their children’s future implies little faith in the Lord. They cannot trust that the Lord would take care of their children when their assumption would come to reality.
The western tribes warned them not rebel against the Lord.

2. Warn

¹⁸ And 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. ¹⁹ If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God.

When the western tribes said, “come over to the Lord’s land,” it implies that the land on the eastern side of the Jordan River is not included the Promised Land.
The Jordan River represents the boundary of old life and new life. God wanted the Israelites to live together in Canaan but after the war, the eastern tribes decided to return to the land east of the Jordan River because their families were left behind.
Similarly, many Christians have crossed from old life to new life, but still insist on going back to the old lifestyle they practised with their families and love ones.

We hear sermons warning us about going back to our old lifestyle but not a few would compromise their lifestyle because they just cannot forget their old lifestyle.
The Lord Jesus declared in Luke 14:26-27, ²⁶“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. The Lord repeated the requirement for disciples in Luke 14:33, ³³those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
When the Lord used the word ‘hate,’ He was not implying that one would do damaging or destructive action against our love ones. It’s about carrying the cross or burden of giving priority to the Lord more than love ones. It says in Acts 16:31, ³¹ “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

When we prioritize the Lord, He takes care of our love ones too. Many believers sincerely shared the gospel with their love ones but no result, why? Salvation comes from the Lord not from human effort. When we prioritize the Lord, we share the gospel as spontaneous act of being saved because Christ’s Spirit Himself inspires us to witness.

Have you heard of parents blaming church leaders because their children don’t come to church? They complain that church ministries are not attractive to their children.
When we prioritize the Lord, we grow spiritually mature as Christ’s disciples, we will understand that each person has different level of spirituality, and there’s timing for spiritual growth. Disciples prioritizing the Lord find no to time to blame others but actively participate in the ministry, and trust the Lord for their family.

The eastern tribes may have good intention for their children when they built an altar along the western side of the Jordan River. Did they really care much for their children? They said that they fear that their children might be ignored in the future. If they really cared, why were they not eager to go home to see their families first?
Their mindset was troubled because they prioritized the welfare of their family instead of obeying the Lord’s command to cross the Jordan River and live in Canaan. Prioritizing their family caused of them to be anxious of their future.

The Lord never commanded us to neglect our family. When we prioritize the Lord, we would actually care more for our love ones as a result. How could that be?
It says in 1 Peter 5:5-11, ⁵ you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This passage implies that if we really prioritize the Lord, we should submit to our church leaders instead of blaming them for anything. Blaming church leaders implies rebellion to God. Humility is more proven when we submit to church leaders, and God would listen to the anxiety we cast on Him, and make us stronger in our faith in Him.
Parents have good intention to be anxious about their children. But by prioritizing God, our heavenly Father, the God of all grace gives us more of His grace and favor.

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