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Joshua chapter 22.
The battles were over and Joshua sent the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh back to their families east of the Jordan. Before they crossed the Jordan they made an altar as a witness between them and their fellow Israelites west of the Jordan that the Lord is God. Even though there was a river that split them apart, they wanted to make sure all the Israelites would know that they always would believe the Lord is God and that there would never be a division amongst them. The other tribes misinterpreted their altar as an altar to a false god and we're ready to go to war with them and confronted them harshly. But when they found out the truth they praised God.
The other tribes were passionately concerned about everyone's spiritual well-being. I feel we lack that today amongst Christians. We all need to be concerned for the spiritual well-being of others. If we were really passionately concerned for the spiritual well-being of others then:
- If a brother in the Lord started down the wrong path we would lovingly want to talk to them in hopes of getting them back with the Lord. Or
- If we had an unsaved family member, friend or co-worker, we'd be praying for their lost souls and would be willing to be used by God as a witness.
Lord help me have that passion of concern for others spiritual being.
After all of the fighting and battles that took place in Joshua, it looked like there might be even more bloodshed that would be among the Israelites, but a misunderstanding was cleared up about what the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the people of Manasseh were doing with the altar in chapter 22. We read in verse 34 that it was a witness between them that the LORD is God.
I was glad that this turned out to be a good report and it made me think of what is written in Romans 12:16-18.
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
The lesson is clear. The enemy’s goal is to get believers to separate, to distance, and to analyze. If I love the Lord and am walking with Him, I need to be careful that in my spirit-filled desire for righteousness, I don’t judge and criticize those on the other side of the river. And to not listen to hearsay – to get all the facts. Likewise, I need to be careful not to place myself in situations that can be misunderstood (like the other side of the river). The enemy would love to see us losing patience and being critical of our brothers and sisters. (This is a weakness that the enemy sees in me and I pray about constantly.) The enemy wants us to cause believers to wage war with each other. Be warned. Be wise. Just love people in Jesus’ name. They’ll know that we are His disciples by our love (see John 13:35). What an amazing privilege!!