EXPEDIENCY OR FAITH? Joshua 22 “The Lord your God has given rest,” is a wonderful statement that reminds us of God's faithfulness to His people. “The is a rest to the people of God,” but it is possible to fall short of what God has provided for us. Israel was at rest from bondage, wilderness living, and seven years of war, and so “the land rested.” Conquest had provided rest that must be claimed and then maintained by being watchful.
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh remained loyal to Moses' command for their soldiers to accompany the other tribes across the Jordan River until they took possession of the promised land. They were allowed to choose their own lands east of the Jordan. Forty thousand men—almost half—stayed behind during the conquest. Joshua ordered these warriors to continue working for the Lord until the land belonged to Israel. They remained faithful to the children of Israel and God's command.
Our flesh often desires what is immediately available and is satisfied with what it chooses for itself instead of pressing forward in faith to be near God. We must be cautious that convenience doesn't mask arguments aimed at attaining flesh's goals. Whenever we have work for God, it's crucial not to quit before completing the task. We have spiritual responsibilities to fulfill, but service to God can draw us away from being close to the Lord if we're not careful. Who we are is much more important than the actions we take. Maintaining our pilgrim character is essential.
Believers today find rest in the victory our Lord Jesus Christ achieved over sin, death, and the devil; all of which were defeated through Christ's sacrifice for us. We can rest in Christ because we have been seated with Him in heavenly places. Even though we rest in liberty under our Lord's banner, we still wrestle against principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places.
There is a rest for God's people in the future when all enemies—the world, the flesh, and the devil—will no longer disturb their peace. Today, our unsanctified flesh battles against our sanctified soul and spirit; the world appeals to our flesh; and the devil seeks to control our lives and hinder our Christian testimony through deception and deceit, which our flesh sometimes responds to. Therefore, we still need to put on the whole armor of God to fight the good fight of faith.
Rest is also incomplete if we do not take advantage of all the blessings we have received from our gracious heavenly Father. He gave the land for the Israelites to possess, and He provides us with everything we need to be “saved by hope.” When we rest in the fact that peace has been made through Christ's finished work, we can live in the goodness of eternal life now without thinking we have to wait for it or earn it. We are not yet fully transformed into the image of Christ due to the limitations of our flesh. When He comes again, these bodies, which now bear the likeness of the earthly, will bear the likeness of the heavenly.
Even though we have many great blessings at this moment, part of us still feels unsatisfied. We long for what lies ahead when we see our Lord, and we will become like Him because “we shall see Him as He is.” In the future, our eternal rest will be complete when we rest where God rests—holiness and righteousness will last forever. Life without the limits and distractions of being earthbound will free us—body, soul, and spirit—to serve our Lord as we should and to enjoy fellowship with Him without barriers from our enemies. Our praise and worship will be unhindered, and the rest we will experience will be fully complete in every way.
When Joshua blessed those men and sent them home with their share of the bounty from battle, he gave them a strong reminder to love the Lord and walk in His ways. To do that, they must follow His commandments, stay close to Him personally, and serve Him wholeheartedly. Blessings are wonderful, but we must remember they all come from the Lord. We can't claim everything we have just because we think we deserve it. God gives us our blessings, and they are meant to be shared with others who are in need and who have served God by "staying by the stuff" while we continue with our work.
Those two-and-a-half tribes received their inheritance through a premature request rather than after the land was properly divided following the conquest. Sometimes acting too soon can cause problems later that were never expected when God grants us what we ask for. It’s not that they did wrong, but that they fell short of what had been promised. The two-and-a-half tribes settled into enjoying what they had instead of moving forward in faith to receive what they could have obtained. They settled for less because it was easier, rather than pursuing what faith promises.
Expediency can have future costs. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Desire starts within us and gradually becomes obvious. When warnings are given, we often dismiss them or see them as minor glitches unworthy of our attention. Leaving Shiloh, where the gathering was at the Tabernacle, might not have seemed very important. After all, Shiloh wasn't a perfect place either. But when we choose our own position, even if it is permitted, that marks the beginning of a departure to protect our own inheritance and the things we cherish.
Past victories do not lessen our responsibility to be faithful to God and His people. We must continue to be zealous in the things of God and fully committed to Him, even when challenging times have passed. It is fitting to enjoy “every good and perfect gift that comes down from above,” but we should not take all that God’s grace and goodness have provided for us for granted. Even though we are dedicated to helping others and meeting needs as we see them, we can still fall short of all that God has for us and desires us to become. Our free will gives us the right to act as we choose, take what we want, and ignore warnings if we think we might miss out on something that appeals to us.
The Lord did not reject those who chose to follow their own path. He provided cities of refuge and Levites to handle spiritual matters and remind them of their identity. However, their true focus was on the east side of the river. To support that interest, they built a large altar of stones. The problem began there because it was "a great altar to see to," not an altar to the Lord made by His instruction. We may create a building or an "altar" that is massive and impressive, but such a memorial is pointless if it was not built according to God's command and for His purpose. Complacency and convenience motivated the construction of the "great altar to see to." Future generations might ask, “What have you got to do with the people of God anyway?” but that doesn't change the fact that God desires His people to walk by faith, not by sight.
Leaving the proximity of God and the place He has chosen for us to worship does not mean the Lord abandons His people. He remains faithful even when we are unfaithful, and despite our consciences, we choose to follow our own way. Just like those who decide what pleases them, our conscience is still at work. This often leads to building a “great altar” of our own to soothe our consciences. Usually, it’s a large replica of the Lord’s altar that appeals to human nature.
People's actions often stem from seeing the real thing and wanting to copy it to fit their needs. Even though it was much larger than the memorial of twelve stones on the west side of Jordan, it was still a work of flesh. The children on the east side could tell the children on the west side, "Our memorial is much bigger and far more impressive than your memorial." The children on the west side could reply, "The memorial on our side was commanded by God for our ancestors to remind us that this was where God kept His promise, and we crossed the river on dry land. What does your pile of stones mean?" So, the name "Ed" (witness) was placed on it in hopes that the children would recognize that the Lord is God. It's not our role to condemn what people do but to promote what the Lord has given and done for us. That recognition comes through faith, not sight.
The tribes east of Jordan said they built an altar to show unity with those on the west side. The other tribes quickly falsely assumed the altar was for worship and sacrifice, causing division among God’s people. However, the committee that came to find out discovered their motives were honest and sincere, and as a result, tragedy was avoided, leading to closer fellowship. We should remember that rumor and gossip are not acceptable among God’s people. Those who suggest there are wrong motives or misinterpret innocent actions are actually being manipulated by the devil, who is the source of division. If we have been unkind and resentful, our spiritual health will suffer. By God’s grace, we can learn to live through love and grace, even toward those we might not naturally love. This will help us become more united.
The Lord, in His grace, did not abandon His people even though there was evidence that their affections were on the east side of the Jordan River rather than at Shiloh, where the Lord had chosen to place His name. Believers who leave where God initially placed them often blame those who stay. The result of trying to bring God into the land of sight rather than faith does not usually happen. It is rarely that someone returns to what they left, even though they know it is right. Giving up expediency is difficult when the cost of going against the opinion of others is a factor.
However, this incident teaches us that it is possible to find fault without first understanding why something happened. There is a principle to follow when a potential conflict arises: start by seeking a peaceful solution through understanding the root cause. Avoid strife if possible and strive to maintain unity. We should judge ourselves before passing judgment on others. When we focus on the Lord, rather than what seems to be wrong, problems can usually be resolved more easily. Wise counsel, taking the necessary time to investigate, and honest reports are key to settling disagreements that could divide the Lord's people.
Initial hostility should be addressed before confrontation or accusations occur. By following God's way, as outlined in Matthew 18 and demonstrated here for our learning, we will see the importance of maintaining unity according to scripture. If we act carefully and responsibly before God, nearly everything can be handled appropriately. Let us keep our focus on the Lord by faith and resist the temptation of taking shortcuts.
The sound of clashing swords and the shouts of fighting men have stopped. The calls between men are not of fear and anger, but peaceful words as the children and women move into new homes. Daddy is home! Sounds heard around the quiet fields are those of joyful people working together. The land is at rest.
The young, strong men are setting aside their trophies and instruments of war, and groups of men move out in different directions to their assigned places. Even though they may never see each other again, they share a bond that connects warriors in their hearts and minds. God had told them to unite against the common enemy until victory was achieved. Finally, the land is at peace.
Promises were made to place God at the center, and blessings were given to those who kept their word and fought until the end. Leadership remains recognized, and authority is still unquestioned. Everything seems fine as the great army returns to a quiet and peaceful life. The land is at rest.
The Jordan is crossed, and some have traveled many days to reach their homes. It is a long journey back to Shiloh, and we live here; this is our land. We need an altar of our own here, where it is more convenient. We need a grand altar, a large one, not like the smaller one in front of the Tabernacle. Soon, trouble looms. This altar is not built according to God’s pattern but by men's choice. Across the peaceful land, bad news spreads like the wind, and men once again reach for their swords and weapons of war. This time, to fight against their own brothers; war runs in their blood, and trouble is near.
Hasty conferences are called, and men rush to meet and issue statements. While others form marching groups to go to war, one group makes a declaration. It seems plausible, but the words are smooth and soothing. The words sound correct and reasonable – and peaceful - for now. Trouble is averted – temporarily. Expediency now often leads to regret later. The result of this choice appeared later when instead of Gilgal, the name changed to “Bochim” (weeping). The resolutions we make and the original noble thoughts of devotion in our hearts fade when we choose the path of expediency. The end of that path is mourning and, ultimately, captivity beyond recovery.