A witness to All Generations
November 25, 2020
Commentary
The Israelite delegation was soon to learn that their suspicions were wrong. Instead of responding in anger the eastern tribes hastened to explain their reason for building the altar. It was not for the purpose of sacrifice (v. 23). The eastern tribes realized the validity of the altar in Shiloh. They were not trying to compete with it, nor substituting another place of worship for the one God had ordained. In fact, their purpose was precisely the opposite (v. 26).
These two- and one-half tribes were only desirous of maintaining the unity of Israel through the erection of the altar. They explained their concern that being separated by many miles from Shiloh, their next generation might begin to wonder whether they were an integral part of Israel. At the same time, the new generations in the west might begin to consider them as outcasts. The altar would be a constant visible reminder of the altar at Shiloh and promote a challenge to maintain religious harmony unity within the nation for years to come. This explanation by the eastern tribes was accepted by Phinehas and his delegation and thus by the Western tribes (vv. 30-31).
A war was averted, and a happy ending came to this grave crisis. The unity of the nation seemed assured. This incident simply illustrates certain principles that were vital to Israel living together in the land harmoniously. Our actions need to demonstrate to our children and grandchildren our reliance on God and remind them of what He has done for us, just as the altar the Israelites built as a reminder for their next generation (v. 27).
Application
The same principles apply to me as a member of God’s family today. How do I rate myself on a scale of 1-10 (10 being excellent)?
1. Zealous for purity (Jude 3).
2. Judging motives purely by circumstances.
3. Being concerned for the next generation.
Joshua 22:21– 34 (NET)
21 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the Israelite clans: 22 “El, God, the Lord! El, God, the Lord! He knows the truth! Israel must also know! If we have rebelled or disobeyed the Lord, don’t spare us today! 23 If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn back from following the Lord by making burnt sacrifices and grain offerings on it, or by offering tokens of peace on it, the Lord himself will punish us. 24 We swear we have done this because we were worried that in the future your descendants would say to our descendants, ‘What relationship do you have with the Lord God of Israel? 25 The Lord made the Jordan a boundary between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no right to worship the Lord.’ In this way your descendants might cause our descendants to stop obeying the Lord. 26 So we decided to build this altar, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, 27 but as a reminder to us and you and our descendants who follow us, that we will honor the Lord in his very presence with burnt offerings, sacrifices, and tokens of peace. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to our descendants, ‘You have no right to worship the Lord.’ 28 We said, ‘If in the future they say such a thing to us or to our descendants, we will reply, “See the model of the Lord’s altar that our ancestors made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a reminder to us and you.”’ 29 Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord by turning back today from following after the Lord by building an altar for burnt offerings, sacrifices, and tokens of peace aside from the altar of the Lord our God located in front of his dwelling place!”
30 When Phinehas the priest and the community leaders and Israel’s clan leaders who accompanied him heard the defense of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the Manassehites, they were satisfied. 31 Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the Manassehites, “Today we know that the Lord is among us, because you have not disobeyed the Lord in this. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s judgment.”
32 Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders left the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead and reported back to the Israelites in the land of Canaan. 33 The Israelites were satisfied with their report and gave thanks to God. They said nothing more about launching an attack to destroy the land in which the Reubenites and Gadites lived. 34 The Reubenites and Gadites named the altar, “Surely it is a Reminder to us that the Lord is God.”