Rev. Don Campbell
Joshua 22-24
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, March 29, 2019
“GETTING TO “WE””
By God’s power, Israel had taken control of the promised land. However, “Operation Total Victory” was not complete, as is seen in the opening chapter of the Book of Judges. However, things were stable enough that the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, whose allotment was east of the Jordon, could return home. Fearing that in generations to come their place in the nation would be denied by the tribes on the west bank, they built a huge replica of the altar at which the Levites served (Joshua 22:10).
When this became known to the other tribes, the nation assembled at Shiloh to make war against their brothers. Before making the first strike, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and a chief from each of the ten tribes went to the east-bank tribes with an accusation of rebellion: “What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this day from following the Lord by building yourselves an altar this day in rebellion against the Lord?” (22:16).
The people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh waiting patiently as the delegation reminded them of the sin at Peor which had brought a plague upon the nation and the sin of Achan who broke faith with God, taking the best of the spoil.
They then responded: “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against the Lord, do not spare us today for building an altar to turn away from following the Lord. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself take vengeance. No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? For the Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the Lord.’ So your children might make our children cease to worship the Lord” (22:21-25).
The delegation accepted the explanation and bloodshed was averted.
CONNECTIONS
1. In their book “Getting to Yes,” Roger Fisher and William Ury, say, “Behind opposed positions lie shared and compatible interests, as well as conflicting ones.” The opposing positions focused on the altar. The compatible interests were the preservation of the worship of the one true God and the right of every Israelite to participate in that worship. Have you been involved in or otherwise known of battles being fought over positions instead of interests? Was it church trouble, divorce, politics, etc.?
2. Benchmark Communications, an executive consulting and coaching company, through its CreateWe Institute, says, “While some top leaders tend to be great talkers, and are natural pitchmen for their visions and strategies, many plateau when it comes to connecting deeply. They’ve learned to talk at people, not with them, and it can hold them and their projects back.” Many people believe they are communicating with another person when they are only exchanging verbal blows. Where have you see this at work and what was the outcome?
