Building an Altar as a Reminder

INTRO

The takeaway for me, from our study of Joshua, is that we have the Commander of the Lord’s army going to war for us. Everywhere we go, Jesus says, “I’m with you, and I’ll be with you.” That had to be the confidence Joshua had as he went through the Promised Land. Joshua was a great commander and warrior as he led the Israelites in and out of battle, but he also cared about his people. In Joshua 22, we’ll see this caring side of Joshua.

TEACHING

Joshua 22:1–8: Joshua called the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh before him (v. 1). He congratulated them for how they listened to God’s commands and provided support for the other tribes (vv. 2–3). In other words, they had finished well. They had done everything they had been asked to do (Colossians 3:23–24). In verse 4, Joshua basically gave them an honorable discharge and sent them back to their homes (Romans 5:1). As Christians, we are no longer at war with the world, we can rest in Christ.

Verse 5 is the key and heart of this chapter. Joshua encouraged these tribes to continue to obey God’s command and instruction as they received their inheritances—to love God completely, walk in His ways, keep His commands, remain faithful to Him, and serve Him with their whole heart and soul. He encouraged them to remain faithful because they were going back across the Jordan River and would be surrounded by unconquered peoples. The river created a geographical division between the tribes. Joshua blessed them and sent them home (v. 6). Normally, the high priest would have given the blessing (Numbers 6:22–27), but in this case, Joshua did. Then, Joshua sent them on their way, with their share of the spoils from the battles. They were incredibly blessed as they returned home because they had done their job (vv. 7–8).

Joshua 22:9–12: As the two and a half tribes traveled home, they stopped and built a large stone altar (v. 10). When the Israelites on the western side of the Jordan heard about the altar, they questioned why the eastern tribes had done this (v. 11). Wiersbe describes the impact of this new altar as creating “honest concern” for the eastern Israelites.¹Based on this information, the Israelites gathered at Shiloh (where the presence of the Lord was) to go to war against the eastern tribes (v. 12).

Joshua 22:13–20: The Israelites sent the priest and ten family leaders to the eastern tribes (vv. 13–15). In verses 16–18, they asked the eastern tribes what they were doing, because they were sinning against God. Verse 17 refers to the sin of aligning with the god Peor (Numbers 25:3), which suggests the Israelites still carried the remorse of that sin with them. The Israelites were asking if these two and a half tribes were now rebelling, turning against God. In verse 20, the emissaries reminded the eastern tribes about the sin of Achan (Joshua 7).

Joshua 22:21–25: The eastern tribes’ response was unexpected. Wiersbe describes their response as “a humble submission.”²Isn’t it amazing that when you’ve done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide? The eastern tribes had nothing to hide, so they responded honestly and humbly. They said that if they had rebelled against God, or even created an altar for offerings, they should be punished (vv. 22–23). They explained that they had built the altar so future generations on both sides of the river would remember their shared faith (v. 24). Further, they realized that since the Jordan River created a division between them, each side could question the faith of the other (v. 25).

Joshua 22:26–29: The eastern tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) continued, saying they had built the altar “to be a witness between us and you, and between the generations after us, so that we may carry out the worship of the Lord in His presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and fellowship offerings” (v. 27).

Joshua 22:30-34: Wiersbe describes this as a “happy agreement.”³The altar was named, “It is a witness between us that the Lord is God.” The Israelites on the western side of the Jordan River were pleased and did not go to war against the other tribes on the eastern side.

Constable points out that, “probably the Israelites should not stand” because “God had not ordained it.”⁴In fact, “other people would misunderstand its existence—as some had already done . . . the practice of building altars resulted in the weakening of tribal ties and allegiance to Yahweh, rather than strengthening them.”⁵Sometimes people will go along with anything to have peace. Peace must come from purity (James 3:17). Peace cannot be faked or based on land. As Matthew Henry said, “Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything but truth.”

As we pray for peace in Jerusalem (Psalm 122), it cannot be faked. It can only come from the Messiah.

CLOSING

When you go after peace, make sure that it comes from the Lord and that it is pure.