Joshua 22 EXPEDIENCY OR FAITH? The tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh, were faithful to the command of Moses for the soldiers to go with the other tribes across the Jordan River until they possessed the promised land. They were given permission to chose their own lands east of the Jordan. Forty thousand men, a little less than half, went and stayed through the whole conquest. They were faithful to the children of Israel and to the command of the Lord. Our flesh often wants what it has here and is satisfied with what it chooses for itself rather than pressing on in faith to be near to God. We have to be careful that what is expedient doesn't smooth over arguments to get what the flesh has as its objective.
Joshua commanded those warriors who followed through in the work of the Lord until the land belonged to Israel. Whenever we have a work to do for God, it is important that we do not stop before the job is done. We have spiritual responsibilities to accomplish it is true, but service for God may take us away from nearness to the Lord if we are not careful. Who we are, is much more important than the things we do. Our pilgrim character needs to be maintained.
When Joshua blessed those men and sent them home rich with their share of the bounty taken in battle, he gave them a strong exhortation to love the Lord and walk in the ways of the Lord. In order to do that they must keep His commandments, cleave to Him personally and serve Him whole-heartedly. Blessings are wonderful but we need to remember that they all have come to us from the Lord. We cannot claim everything we have because we deserve it. Our blessings are given to us by God and are to be shared with others who have needs as well and have served God by "staying by the stuff" while we press ahead with our work.
Those two and a half tribes received their inheritance in a premature request rather than by the division of land after the conquest was over. Sometimes to act prematurely can cause difficulties later that were never thought of when God gave us that for which we asked. It was not that they did wrong, but that they stopped short of what had been promised. Expediency has some future costs. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Desire begins within us and by degrees establishes itself openly. When warnings are given, they are explained away or are overlooked as a mere glitch that is not worth our consideration. To depart from Shiloh where the gathering center was at the tabernacle, may not have seemed too important. After all, Shiloh wasn't a perfect place either. But when we take our own chosen position, even though it is allowed, that is the beginning of a departure in order to protect our own chosen inheritance and claim for ourselves the things we treasure.
The Lord did not cast aside those who hade made their own choice. He provided cities of refuge, and Levites to deal with spiritual matters and remind them of who they were. But their real affections were on the east side of the river. In order to facilitate that interest, they built a great altar of stones. The problem started there because it was "a great altar to see to," not an altar to the Lord built by the Lord's direction. We may make a building or an "altar" that is huge and awe-inspiring, but such a memorial is a useless thing if the instruction to build it did not come from God and was not for God. Complacency and expediency were the motivation behind building the "great altar to see to." The future generations may ask, “What have you got to do with the people of God anyway?” but that doesn't change the fact that God expects His people to walk by faith, not by sight.
Why people do certain things may be because they have seen the real thing and want to make their own copy and accommodate it to suit themselves. Even though it was much larger than the memorial of twelve stones on the west side of Jordan, it was still a work of the flesh. The children on the east side could say to the children on the west side, "Our memorial is much bigger and far more impressive than your memorial." The children on the west could say, "The memorial on our side is because God told our fathers to put it here to remind us that right here 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 put on it in hopes that the children would know the Lord is God. It is not our place to condemn what people do as much as to promote what the Lord has given us and done for us. That is recognized by faith, not sight.
Those on the east of Jordan erected an altar to witness to oneness with those on the west side. The other tribes jumped to false conclusions and presumed the altar was for worship and sacrifice, and showed division among God’s people. The committee of men who came to find out, found their motive was pure and sincere and tragedy was avoided, with the result of closer ties of fellowship. We need to learn and remember that rumor and gossip is not acceptable among God’s people. Those who imply wrong motives or put a wrong interpretation on an innocent action are actually being manipulated by the devil. He is the originator of division. If we have been unkind and resentful, we will shrivel spiritually. By God’s grace, we can learn to live by grace and love those we may not be inclined to love. This will make us compatible.
The Lord in grace did not cast off His people even though there was evidence their affections were on the east side of the Jordan River rather than at Shiloh where the Lord chose to place His name. Believers who leave where God placed them at first, invariably lay blame on those who stay. The consequences of a change in order to endeavor to bring God into the land of sight rather than faith, doesn't make it happen. It very seldom happens that one returns to what they left even though they know it is right. Expediency is hard to give up when the cost of going against the tide of the opinion of others is a factor.
However, we learn from this incident that it is possible for us to find fault without first of all finding the reason for a thing to happen. There is a principle to follow when a potential conflict arises. That begins with seeking a peaceful solution by learning what the root cause is first. Avoid strife if possible and maintain unity if possible. We need to be sure to judge ourselves before passing judgment on others. When we focus on the Lord, not what seems to us to be wrong, a problem can usually be easily solved. Wise counsel, time needed to search a matter out, and true and honest reports, are the keys to settling things right that may divide the Lord's people.
Initial hostility needs to be checked before there is confrontation or accusations made. When we do things God's way as taught in Matthew 18, and is illustrated here for our learning, then we will recognize the need for unity to be preserved scripturally. If we act carefully and are willing to act responsibly before God, almost everything that divides can be appropriately dealt with. Let us keep our eyes and attention on the Lord Himself by faith, and not succumb to the temptation of expediency.