From Blessing to Conflict to Blessing Text: Joshua 22:10-34 Series: The Venture and Victory of Faith [Joshua; #14] Pastor Lyle L. Wahl May 27, 2018 Introduction A Christian school administrator attended a seminar about conflict being an opportunity. I am not sure if you have thought of conflict that way. The presenter noticed this man was disturbed and restless during the session. They met during the afternoon break. Tears welled up in his eyes as the man said, I just don t know how much more of this I can take. I hate conflict. I go to great lengths to avoid dealing with it. This Bible study is confronting me with how I handled my ministry as a professional educator for 30 years. I don t think I can make that kind of change this late in life. Some of us may hate conflict as much as he did. The good news was that this man embraced a new perspective and, as he reported when returning to the seminar the next year with his staff, My entire ministry is changed. I still don t like conflict, but I have learned that conflict provides me with ministry opportunities. 1 Joshua chapter 22, where we find ourselves this morning, is largely focused on a conflict. It may surprise us because the first 9 verses which we looked at last week are saturated with unity and blessing God. At verse 10 there is a sharp turn of events and relationship. Israel went from a time of blessing to a time of conflict. The tribes west of the Jordan River were on the brink of going to war with the 2½ tribes east of the river. The good news as we go on in this chapter is that the people went from a time of blessing to conflict and then back to a time of blessing. I want us to get a handle on what happened and God s truth for us from these events.
Getting a handle on what happened. To get a handle on what happened we need to back up to the first part of chapter 22 that we looked at last week. That was a time of blessing. The 2 ½ tribes granted territory east of the Jordan River had faithfully crossed the river and fought with the rest of Israel to subdue the land west of the Jordan. It was a job well done. Now that the tribes west of the Jordan were off to their territories, Joshua called the leaders of the 2½ tribes together. He thanked and blessed them. He also challenged them to continue to love God and walk in all His ways as they returned home. It was a time of unity and harmony, a time of great blessing for all of Israel. They had been faithful and now enjoyed the blessings of God s faithfulness to them. The five-year conquest of the land was complete, although there still were areas to be taken. It was time to enjoy the land and celebrate. Celebrate God giving them this land as He promised Abraham almost 700 years earlier. Celebrate their ties and fellowship. It was the best of times, a time overflowing with blessings. But the situation changed quickly. On the way back east, the 2 ½ tribes did something that inaugurated a new and different time, a time of conflict. Look at verse 10. And when they came to the region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan a great, impressive altar. They built a very large and impressive altar that could be seen from a great distance and it was, as verse 11 clarifies, on the west side of the Jordan River, not on their own east side. You could ask, So, what s the big deal about this altar? Weren t there many different altars? When God gave the Law He commanded that all sacrifices in Israel be made only on the one altar He designated. This kept their worship unified, not allowing it to fragment and stray from God s truth. God said in the book of Leviticus, Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, and does not bring 2
it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to offer it to the LORD, that man shall be cut off from among his people. 2 Being cut off from among his people meaning that the person would either be banished or put to death. Further, in Deuteronomy chapter 13 God gave strict instructions that if any city in Israel started serving man-made gods it was to be destroyed. We read there, you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it, all that is in it and its livestock with the edge of the sword. And you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and completely burn with fire the city and all its plunder, for the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again. So none of the accursed things shall remain in your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of His anger and show you mercy, have compassion on you and multiply you, just as He swore to your fathers, because you have listened to the voice of the LORD your God, to keep all His commandments which I command you today, to do what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God. 3 There could be no doubt that God was very serious about this. Worship and sacrifice only on the altar He designated. The people west of the Jordan saw this huge altar and they couldn t believe such a quick and bold defection would take place. And so, verse 12 tells us, when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go to war against them [that is, against the eastern 2½ tribes]. But first, fortunately, they sent a respected group of leaders to investigate and try to talk the eastern tribes out what they saw as rebellion against God and the nation. As the nation was settling into the land enjoying its blessings, it was on the brink of civil war. This threat to the nation s unity ended well and as it should have. They resolved the conflict and returned to a time of blessing. The select committee from the west got straight to their point, verse 16, What treachery is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that you have 3
built for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel this day against the LORD? They reminded the eastern tribes of earlier rebellions which God judged, and that His judgment was on the nation, not just the individual rebels. So, if they rebelled against God today, verse 18, tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel. The offered a concession: if the eastern territory was unclean and leading them away from God, the western tribes would sacrifice and give some of their land on the west side of the Jordan River to them (verse 19). They did not care as much about their own, new, bountiful territory as they did for all the nation staying true to God. When someone reads this account for the first time up to verse 20 it seems clear the eastern tribes were rebelling against God for some unknown, puzzling, perplexing reason. But looking at the whole account, we know they were not. The eastern tribes took the charges seriously and answered solemnly and clearly. In verse 22 they told the delegation that if they were rebelling against God the others were not to spare them, but to strike them down immediately. But they went on to say they were not rebelling against God. The altar they built was not for sacrifices, but as a witness of their unity with their brothers on the other side of the Jordan River. When future generations on both sides of the river see it, they reasoned, it will remind them of their unity centered in God and worshiping Him. The Jordan will not be allowed to divide east from west or west from east. The select committee from the west now understood the eastern tribes motives and intent. And so the conflict was resolved, and both the western and eastern tribes rejoiced in their knowledge of their unity, in knowing that the LORD is God (34). Getting a handle on God s truth for us. Let s move on to getting a handle on the truth God has for us from these events. One striking truth is that both the western and eastern tribes took God s truth seriously, and so should we. God s word is truth. The Psalm writer tells us that The sum of [God s] word is truth, and every one of [His] righteous ordinances is everlasting (NASB). 4 Jesus prayed to the Father 4
just before His arrest and crucifixion, Your word is truth. 5 God tells us through King David that His word is perfect, sure, is right, is pure, everlasting, it is true. And so we are to take God s truth seriously. God told Moses, Oh, that [Israel] had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! 7 And so He also said, You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess. 8 As we already noted, God declared in the Law that all sacrifices were to be only on the one altar He designated. Further, that if any cities in Israel turned away from Him, the rest of the nation was to destroy them. The western tribes took this truth seriously so when they heard about this big altar the eastern tribes had erected and they gathered together at Shiloh to go to war against them (12). The eastern tribes also took this truth seriously. At first they may have felt as the couple did in the cartoon on the bulletin cover today who stared at the canons facing them from next door and said, Have we done something to upset our neighbors? I am sure many people on the eastern side thought that way. The eastern tribes declared that if in fact they were rebelling against God the western tribes should strike them down immediately in keeping with God s instructions. God calls us to take His truth seriously. That is a challenge in our day when always true for every person, place and time truth is increasingly being rejected, ridiculed and attacked as being intolerant and arrogant. Some people questioned and even condemned some of the faith leaders who were chosen to participate in the dedication of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem recently because those leaders hold exclusive faith claims. The reality is that each of the major faith groups in Jerusalem Judaism, Islam and Christianity make exclusive faith claims. Christianity Jesus tells us, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). Those claims do not make any of them or their representatives intolerant bigots. But yet the attacks are made in this climate of rejecting absolute truth, or attacking those who hold any truth with which people disagree. 5
We might think all Christians would be serious and holding firmly to the basic, foundational truths of the faith. But sadly that is not the case. Ideas running against the truth of Scripture are growing, such as there being no everlasting punishment for sin on to the idea that while all who are truly saved are saved by the death of Jesus Christ, one does not have to consciously place his or her faith in Jesus Christ to be saved. When it comes to the core of the gospel, as God tells us through the apostle Paul, the one who comes to us with a different, contradictory message is to be accursed. 9 That s strong language. It is God speaking through the apostle Paul. God added the practical direction through the apostle John that If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works (ESV). 10 In other words, do not recognize, treat false teachers as fellow believers. As the church as a whole struggles with the basic truths, it is no surprise to see the disarray on distinctive truths, that is, truths not essential to have true saving faith. One the one hand there are those who are ready to go to war, to charge others with heresy on any point of doctrine. On the other hand there are those who ridicule those holding distinctive positions with conviction, comparing them to those who burned people at the stake. Neither one demonstrates true Christian charity. Neither one demonstrates a healthy Biblical balance of love and truth. All of this makes it essential that we obey God by taking His truth seriously. A second truth to get a handle on is not to rush to judgment on the ideas and actions of others, and the people themselves. Taking truth seriously needs to be joined to a number of other things, including careful thinking. When the western tribes heard about the eastern tribes large altar, verse 12 again, they were ready and eager to go to war against them. They heard about the altar and quickly assumed that the eastern tribes built it for sacrifices, that they were violating God s direct commands, and that they must be punished immediately. And so they quickly gathered at Shiloh to go to war. 6
Fortunately this rush to judgment was not universal. The leaders exercised sober second thought. Let s pick it up at verse 13. Then the children of Israel sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, and with him ten rulers, one ruler each from the chief house of every tribe of Israel; and each one was the head of the house of his father among the divisions of Israel. Then they came to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them (verses 13-15). Think about how devastating it would have been for the entire nation if those leaders had joined and fanned the flames of war. Rushing to judge what other people think and do and the people themselves is an all too common feature of life. I am sure we all have run into it. Journalist Thomas Lee went to interview the president of a large manufacturing company. He arrived a few minutes before noon and told the receptionist he was looking for the president s executive assistant. Oh. Are you delivering the food? she asked. This wasn t the first time this Chinese-American journalist was mistaken for a Chinese food delivery guy. Yet the receptionist s question stunned him. He was wearing a dress shirt, black slacks and black dress shoes. He certainly did not look like a delivery guy. But she rushed to assume, to judge him. 11 We are to, in fact we have to make judgments. But we should not have a judgmental or fault finding attitude, but evaluate with thought and God s wisdom. That is a point of two frequently cited statements of Jesus. Matthew chapter 7, beginning at verse 1, Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye, when you can t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend s eye (verses 1-5, NLT). 7
And Jesus also tells us in John chapter 7 verse 24, Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. The church in Corinth was tolerating blatant sin, and so Paul pointedly wrote them, it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning (NLT). 12 Yes, we evaluate and judge but we are never to rush to judgment, we are never to judge without a full measure of the facts, without love for others, without talking with them, without a desire to build up others. The next truth is to be committed to resolving issues. The leaders of the western tribes went across the river, asked for information, pointed out God s truth that was relevant here, offered an option all with the goal of seeing the eastern tribes remaining true to God and united with them. The leaders of the eastern tribes listened, affirmed God s truth and the consequences of going against it, explained their motivation, and affirmed their loyalty to God and the nation. This process of resolution could have been short-circuited at many different points by either side. But both groups were committed to a God-honoring resolution. Because we don t like conflict we can try to pretend it doesn t exist, hope that it will go away in time or, if it is undeniable, try to minimize it. Sometimes we may keep conflict going or escalate it as we try to excuse or justify our own wrong, unwise, sinful behavior and also keep attacking, keep blaming the other person or group. We cannot try to resolve every conflict, nor should we. All of us have experienced another driver cutting us off in traffic. None of us has tried to find that person and resolve that conflict. While that was wrong, it is one of those things we can learn from and let go. Many conflicts we should try to resolve. Jesus presented several pictures of resolving conflict that also show how important it is to do that. The first is in Matthew chapter 5. We pick it up at verse 20 (page 1115 in the church Bibles). Jesus is speaking, For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother 8
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Raca! [meaning empty headed, senseless or good for nothing] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, You foo l! shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him [i.e., on the way to court], lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny (verses 20-26). Another side of this is in Matthew chapter 18 (that is on page 1133 in the church Bibles). Again Jesus is speaking. Verse 15. Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector (verses 15-17). You see, my goal is not to prove that I was right and the other person was wrong, but that we restore unity based on truth and love. When the other person clearly is in the wrong Galatians chapter 6 verse 1 gives us more guidance, Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Paul s words in Ephesians chapter 4 frame our perspective for all situations. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put 9
away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (verses 29-32, NASB). How much ongoing tension, division, anger and bitterness, how many aching hearts and sleepless nights, how much harm to the cause of Christ would be prevented if we were always committed to resolving conflicts God s way? Yet how many times do believers fail to follow, even refuse to follow God s clear directions for resolving all conflicts whether they be personal, family, church, organizational conflicts and instead try to justify themselves for not doing so as they keep shooting away at the other person or group? There is one more truth to get a handle on here make sure you always celebrate God s goodness of restoring unity. Just as the Holy Spirit is the One who creates our unity, so it is the Holy spirit who brings about restored unity after we have strained or fractured it. He does that as we are diligent both to preserve and restore unity. 13 Notice the description as the western and eastern tribes came back together to that place of blessing we saw in the first part of the chapter. Verse 30, they were pleased with what they heard. Verse 31, they recognized the LORD was in their midst and had delivered them from possible judgment. Verse 33, the whole nation was pleased and blessed God. Verse 34, they had unity based on the fact that the LORD is God. As I read this section I am drawn to King David s words in Psalm 133. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing life forevermore (verses 1-3). That is what the tribes on both sides of the Jordan were experiencing, and they were celebrating it! Paul explained in Romans chapter 15 what David pictured in Psalm 133. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving 10
praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (verses 5-6, NLT). We are so here and now, in the present moment oriented that it is easy to quickly move on and not only forget to continue to celebrate, but forget the goodness of God in restoring unity. Think about a time when God worked to bring understanding, to restore fellowship, to bring new or renewed unity in your life and relationships. I am sure that brought relief, thankfulness and even celebration. Yes. But we sometimes can easily not thank God, or quickly stop thanking God after He has accomplished that wonderful work of bringing us closer or back to being close to others. I am not suggesting we go about putting up actual physical, symbolic altars as the eastern tribes did here, but we should have markers in our hearts and minds as a witness between us that the LORD is God. Conclusion. Israel went from blessing to conflict and back to blessing. We know the experience of going from blessing to conflict and, hopefully, of coming back to blessing. When we get stuck at the conflict stage we can make the right choices regardless of what has happened or the other person or people have or have not done, are or are not doing. The four lessons we looked at today are for both preventing conflict and restoration after conflict. Take the truth of God seriously. Don t rush to judgment. Be committed to resolving issues, resolving them God s way. Celebrate God s goodness of restoring unity. In these next moments that you spend with God, examine how you have been handling conflict and confess to God where you have not handled it as you should have. Ask Him to help you apply these truths, whether you are embroiled in conflict now or relatively free from it. 1 Ted Kober. Conflict an Opportunity? I Hate Conflict! <https://www.hisaor.org/web-content/images/opportunities.pdf>. Revised March 2004. Accessed 14 May 2018. 2 Leviticus 17:8-9. 11
3 Deuteronomy 13:15-18. 4 Psalm 119:160, NASB. 5 John 17:17. 6 Psalm 19:7-10. 7 Deuteronomy 5:29. 8 Deuteronomy 5:33. 9 Galatians 1:8-9. 10 2 John 1:10-11, ESV. 11 Thomas Lee. Here s a tip: Think before you insult. StarTribune. 10 August 2009. 12 1 Corinthians 5:12, NLT, context:1-13. 13 Ephesians 4:3. 2018 Lyle L. Wahl Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture marked (NASB) taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 12