Title: ED The Trouble Maker
Text: Joshua 22:1-34 - Key Verse: 11-12 and 30-34
Pray!!!
Read Text!!!
Introduction:
- In our text this morning we have the birth of a nation, a blessed people who had overcome great obstacles.
- A people who were careful to obey the one true living God.
- A people who were so excited about what God had done for them and through them.
- A people who loved each other and fought together for the cause to be a chosen people set apart by God to worship Him and be an influence in the world around them.
- But something went wrong as we will see in our text, that caused the birth of a nation who loved each other, were committed to each other and God, to almost kill each other.
- What happened? And what can we do to avoid the same problem the Israelites faced.
Read Text and Pray!!!
- It was now time to divide the allotments of land to the tribes.
- Each tribe got a parcel of land.
- But two and a half tribes were allotted land east of the Jordan river. The tribes were Gad, Reuben, and half of Manessah.
- These two and half tribes finished fighting with the rest of Israel for approx 7 years, now they were going back to there families east of the Jordan river were they had left them before crossing over with Joshua.
- They were excited, on fire for God, loving there neighbour and they parted as a nation to go to there allotted territory.
- So they leave Shiloh excited, but as they approached the Jordan river a sense of isolation from the other tribes begins to sweep over them.
- This was not just because of the River Jordan, for the Jordan is not a very big river.
- But rather that feeling came over them because of the mountains on each side that rise into the sky, approx 2000 feet, and the Jordan valley is nestled in between, and it looks like a great trench 5 to 13 miles wide.
- During the hot months of the year, who wants to travel and visit?
- Who wants to climb mountains with screaming kids just to go and visit with the 2 and a half tribes east of the Jordan. It would be allot of the work.
- This may have contributed to the fear of these tribesmen that they may never see there friends and brethren again. They would drift apart permanently.
- So they begin to ask themselves the question, what could be done to keep alive the ties of comradeship? To keep the fellowship alive and healthy?
- What could be done to symbolize the unity between people on both sides of the river, to remind everyone that they were all the children of the promise?
- There answer, build an altar. One that could be seen from a great distance, so all would no that they are the children of promise.
- So they erected an altar of great size on the west side of the Jordan river. To the show there children, and the world of there common unity.
- But there good intentions was understood to be that of Apostasy from the other tribes.
- To make a long story short, the other 9 and half tribes got together at Shiloh and were preparing to go to war with there brothers.
- And it was all on the basis of what they heard. (Jos 22:11)
- So what drove the 9 and a half tribes to go out and kill there brothers? Assumption and not fact!
- Assumption means taking all the pieces of a situation and putting them together to come up with an answer.
- But never going to the source for that answer first.
- The 9 and a half tribes put all the facts together that convinced them to go to war, and one of them was:
1. Setting up an altar when you were not suppose to.
Lev 17:8-9 says, “Say to them: Any Israelite or any alien living among them who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice and does not bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to the Lord, that man must be cut off from his people.”
Deut 12:27 says, “Present your burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord your God, both the meat and the blood. The blood of your sacrifices must be poured beside the altar of the Lord your God, but you may eat the meat.
- Israel was told to destroy all other altars.
Exodus 34:13 says, “Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.”
- There was one exception in Deut 27:4-8, where Israel is told to take twelve stones out of the Jordan River and put them up as a memorial.
- So therefore the Israelites called for war against there brothers on the basis of assumption.
Reconciliation Sought After:
- Phinehas, Eleazer’s son comes to the surface and chose 10 tribal rulers to go and confront the other 2 and a half tribes.
- When they arrive there they accuse the two and a half tribes of rebellion right away, without even hearing there side of the story.
- After they finished venting, the truth is told as to way they erected the altar.
- Instead of responding in anger, the two and a half tribes respond in sincerity.
- They explained to Phinehas and the 10 tribal rulers why they built the altar.
- The reason was geographical separation, and what it might have on future generations.
- It was not intended for burnt offering, but rather as a memorial.
- The action taken by the two and a half tribes was not sin, but it was not necessary.
- All Israelite males were to appear at the sanctuary three times a year. (Exodus 23:17)
- This if heeded would preserve the unity of all tribes both spiritually and politically.
- So therefore after a full explanation, both sides went away happy.
- Phinehas expressed deep gratitude that no sin had been committed and that the wrath of God was not incurred.
Transition:
- Why so much detail? For this reason, it’s God’s will for all people to live in harmony and blessing.
- There are principals that Israel followed, that apply to the church family today.
- They are:
Point 1: Commendable
- It’s great for believers to be zealous for holiness and purity of the faith.
- Israel was passionate to keep the lines of communication open toward God. And the only way of doing that is to remain free from sin.
- When we compromise the truth it’s always costly.
- Israel was to be commended for there zeal to remain pure, which then prompted them to take extreme actions, meaning haste without all the facts.
- The question is, could the Israelites have the same zeal towards the Lord but without going to extremes, WAR! The answer is yes, through communication which I will explain in more detail.
- But the focus we need to have is a zeal for purity, just like the Israelites had.
- Listen to this story to help explain:
A famous actor was an after dinner speaker at a big function and when he stood up to speak, he invited his audience to choose a poem for him to recite.
There was a long silence until a retired clergyman raised his hand and asked for Psalm 23.
The actor was slightly taken back, but agreed to do so provided the clergyman would recite it after him, which the clergyman reluctantly agreed to do.
The actor recited Psalm 23 and received a standing ovation. When the clergyman recited the Psalm, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
The actor came over to the clergyman and said in front of all the guests. "Do you know the difference between his version and my version. I know the 23rd Psalm but he knows the Shepherd"...
- Do you know the Shepherd? To know the Shepherd is to pursue Him with love and zeal in holiness. And the Israelites were to be commended for that.
Point 2: Circumstance
- I asked a question earlier, could Israel maintain the same level of zeal, but without going to extremes (War) I said yes and here’s why.
- Circumstance. It’s wrong to judge fellow Christians motives on the basis of circumstanial evidence.
- It’s important to get all the facts, remembering there are always two sides to every dispute.
Listen to this story:
The young husband was a henpecked and he was going to a psychiatrist about
the problem. The doctor told him, "You don’t have to let your wife bully you! Go home and show her you’re the boss! The young man got home, slammed the door, shook his fist in his wife’s face, and growled, "From now on, you’re taking orders from ME! When I get home from work, I want my supper ON the table.
I want my clothes laid out.
I’m will be going out with the boys.
Your will be staying home.
And another thing.
Do you know who’s going to tie my tie
Yes she said: The undertaker.
Plan your strategy: don’t rely on the advice of the world to Bring peace into your home.
- There’s always two sides to every story, and people who give advice need to know the two sides.
- It takes two to create a problem. But we always think the other person is in the wrong.
- In our text both sides are wrong, the 9 and a half jumped to conclusions to fast and the 2 and a half didn’t need to build the altar.
- The point is it’s fixable, as long as both sides are hard and respected.
Point 3: Communication
- Open discussion will often clear the air and lead to reconciliation.
- But how is that discussion done? Mostly one on one, and in a spirit of gentleness, not arrogance. (Gal 6:1)
- Gentleness is a choice, not a feeling. The same that love is a choice not a feeling.
- There are times that husbands and wives don’t love each other, husbands don’t look at your wife, look right at me.
- We need to understand that we cannot be ruled by emotion, but by the Word of God.
- We do what’s right, not what feels good.
- Pilate made that mistake, he did what was popular and in the best interest of himself not Jesus.
- He wanted to please the people, Rome and the high priests. He did, but at the cost of Jesus, the Son of God.
- So if we are praying for reconciliation, unity and a sense of oneness, understand that communication must take place, and it must be done in a spirit of gentleness not arrogance.
- A person who is wrongly accused does well to remember the wise counsel of Solomon, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:11)
Closing:
- In closing this morning, it’s God’s will for the church to be in unity, one accord and under God’s full blessing.
- We must learn a lesson from the 9 and a half tribes and 2 and a half tribes.
- And that lesson being one of trust.
- Trust in God’s laws, and trust in each other.
- We can’t assume anything, but we must learn the principals before us:
Commendable - Don’t compromise the truth of God’s Word, learn to trust God.
Circumstance - Don’t judge people, get all the facts first. There are always two sides to every story.
Communication - Open discussion will make the way for reconciliation. It must be done with a spirit of gentleness, and that’s a choice we make to be gentle.
- God is in charge of all things, lets let Him lead our personal lives and the body of Christ.
I close with this story:
At a meeting of the American Psychological Association, Jack Lipton, a psychologist at Union College, and R. Scott Builione, a graduate student at Columbia University, presented their findings on how members of the various sections of 11 major symphony orchestra perceived each other. The percussionists were viewed as insensitive, unintelligent, and hard-of-hearing, yet fun-loving. String players were seen as arrogant, stuffy, and unathletic. The orchestra members overwhelmingly chose "loud" as the primary adjective to describe the brass players. Woodwind players seemed to be held in the highest esteem, described as quiet and meticulous, though a bit egotistical. Interesting findings, to say the least! With such widely divergent personalities and perceptions, how could an orchestra ever come together to make such wonderful music? The answer is simple: regardless of how those musicians view each other, they subordinate their feelings and biases to the leadership of the conductor. Under his guidance, they play beautiful music.
- When we keep our eyes fixed on Him, we will make beautiful music together as a church body to the Lord.
Lets Pray!!!
