March 30, 2025 -How to Avoid War

JOSHUA 22:1-24:33

Chronological Bible Readings

Joshua 22:11 The rest of Israel heard that the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar at Geliloth at the edge of the land of Canaan, on the west side of the Jordan River. 12 So the whole community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and prepared to go to war against them.

Isn't this a natural reaction when we hear of something that someone else has done that we wouldn't normally do. We assume the reason and react based on our own thought ideas and feeling on the subject. We may not plan on physically going to war against our own people but we do gather support from other people who don't know any more than we do and prepare for other kinds of war. It can be a verbal war where we use words to attack the other person in ways usually unrelated without even addressing the real reason. It can be a cold war where we talk behind their back and turn others against them and everyone disassociates with them. It can be an ambush where we set the other person up to fail by working against them. In any case these wars are all illegitimately started by us. We assume to know the true reason and motivations of another person and respond to that assumptions and we all know what happens when we ASS-U-ME things. I have battled in this kind of war. At first I only saw the attack from the other side. I feel like I was the Eastern Tribes. Where the other person was unfairly attacking me. Which may have been true but I now know that I was equally in the wrong because when I sensed that I was under attack I let it go on without going to the person directly. It took a dear friend who had Godly wisdom to bring it to my attention and help by serving as a mediator for us. Instead of being indifferent and defensive I should have gone to that person and talked to them.

Joshua 22:13 First, however, they sent a delegation led by Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to talk with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 14 In this delegation were ten leaders of Israel, one from each of the ten tribes, and each the head of his family within the clans of Israel.

15 When they arrived in the land of Gilead, they said to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 16 “The whole community of the Lord demands to know why you are betraying the God of Israel. How could you turn away from the Lord and build an altar for yourselves in rebellion against him?

They went to the people who were doing something they thought was wrong and asked them "Why?". And told them what it looked like to them. That they were betraying God and rebelling against Him. Had I gone to the person I was in a silent war with and asked "Why?" or she had done the same with me, there may not have been a war.

Joshua 22:19 “If you need the altar because the land you possess is defiled, then join us in the Lord’s land, where the Tabernacle of the Lord is situated, and share our land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar other than the one true altar of the Lord our God. 20 Didn’t divine anger fall on the entire community of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the Lord? He was not the only one who died because of his sin.”

They shared the fears about the situation. This gives a reason for their reaction and explains why they assumed the worst. Isn't that where our misplaced assumptions come from. Usually from a fear or a hurt in our lives something that we are hyper aware of. When we share our thoughts and feelings and the why it can help us to understand each other. It will change the reaction of the other person. It can help them to be less defensive. When I came together with my mediators to talk with my sister in Christ I truly wanted to hear what she was thinking and feeling. I wanted to listen to her hurts and fears.

Joshua 22:21 Then the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the clans of Israel: 22 “The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! He knows the truth, and may Israel know it, too! We have not built the altar in treacherous rebellion against the Lord. If we have done so, do not spare our lives this day. 23 If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn away from the Lord or to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings, may the Lord himself punish us.

The Eastern tribes speak to the fears of the people first. They assure the delegation that the people's assumptions are not their intentions. And they take full responsibility before God in their actions. I think I had done my best to speak to my friend's fears and feeling in the situation and it is always my heart to humbly submit my actions to God and take responsibility for my sinful actions. I am not sure if that is what came across but that was my intention.

Joshua 22:24 “The truth is, we have built this altar because we fear that in the future your descendants will say to ours, ‘What right do you have to worship the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 The Lord has placed the Jordan River as a barrier between our people and you people of Reuben and Gad. You have no claim to the Lord.’ So your descendants may prevent our descendants from worshiping the Lord. 26 “So we decided to build the altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, 27 but as a memorial. It will remind our descendants and your descendants that we, too, have the right to worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings. Then your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no claim to the Lord.’28 “If they say this, our descendants can reply, ‘Look at this copy of the Lord’s altar that our ancestors made. It is not for burnt offerings or sacrifices; it is a reminder of the relationship both of us have with the Lord.’ 29 Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord or turn away from him by building our own altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices. Only the altar of the Lord our God that stands in front of the Tabernacle may be used for that purpose.”

Now the Eastern Tribes share their true reason, which is also based on their fears and concerns. Their intention was not at all what was assumed by their fellow Israelites. They were concerned about the future and tried to do something to protect all the people in future generations. I did try to share my reason for things I did and my assumptions about the situation based on what I saw.

Joshua 22:30 When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of Israel—heard this from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they were satisfied. 31 Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, replied to them, “Today we know the Lord is among us because you have not committed this treachery against the Lord as we thought. Instead, you have rescued Israel from being destroyed by the hand of the Lord.”

And a war was avoided because assumptions were not taken to be true but were motivation to come together and talk things out. I have become very big on the importance of transparency and communication. When we are dealing with groups of people working together the most important thing is to have open communication. All sides should be able to share their fears, concerns and ideas and all sides should be willing to hear each other as well.