Have you ever misunderstood another person’s actions?
I know I have.
Conversely, has anyone ever misunderstood your actions?
Yep, I have experienced this too.
These situations can cause brokenness in our interpersonal relationships.
On a much larger scale, it can cause rifts between larger people groups and even nations.
Worse yet, miscommunication has the potential to destroy unity in worship.
Joshua 22 helps us understand the importance of communicating clearly with each other.
Resolving Miscommunication in Worship | The Calm Before the Storm
Joshua 22 starts on a high note.
The Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had done everything both Moses and Joshua had asked of them to carry out the mission of the Lord for the entire nation of Israel. (Jos 22:1-4)
Joshua sends them home to their families across the Jordan with blessings and gifts. (Jos 22:6-8)
They were also given a reminder from Joshua.
Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Jos 22:5)
Resolving Miscommunication in Worship | The Action that Stirred Controversy
We are then told:
And when they came to the region of the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of imposing size. (Jos 22:10)
News of this imposing altar reaches the rest of Israel. Consider their immediate reaction.
And the people of Israel heard it said, “Behold, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built the altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel.” 12 And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them. (Jos 22:11–12)
What is the significance of gathering at Shiloh? (See Deut 12:1-7 and Jos 18:1)
Why did the Israelites respond so strongly to the two-and-a-half tribes building this altar? (See Deut 12:1-7 again)
But before officially starting the war, a delegation of ten chiefs and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, went to question the two-and-a-half tribes.
“Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord, ‘What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this day from following the Lord by building yourselves an altar this day in rebellion against the Lord? 17 Have we not had enough of the sin at Peor from which even yet we have not cleansed ourselves, and for which there came a plague upon the congregation of the Lord, 18 that you too must turn away this day from following the Lord? (Jos 22:16–18)
Describe what happened at Peor and how the Lord resolved it. (See Num 25:1-18)
What was Phinehas’ role at Peor?
And if you too rebel against the Lord today then tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel. (Jos 22:18)
Based on what happened at Peor, their concern seems valid at this point.
But now, if the land of your possession is unclean, pass over into the Lord’s land where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against the Lord or make us as rebels by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the Lord our God. (Jos 22:19)
How is this offer meant to protect and strengthen the unity of all twelve tribes?
20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did not perish alone for his iniquity. (Jos 22:19–20)
Describe what Achan did and how the Lord resolved it. (See Jos 7:1-26)
Why did Phinehas and the ten chiefs use the examples of Peor and Achan in their questioning of the two-and-a-half tribes?
Resolving Miscommunication in Worship | Explanation of the Action
Then the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel, 22 “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against the Lord, do not spare us today 23 for building an altar to turn away from following the Lord. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself take vengeance. (Jos 22:21–23)
What is the author conveying by saying the two-and-a-half tribes answered the “heads of the families of Israel”?
Who do the two-and-a-half tribes appeal to for their construction of an altar? Why?
No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 For the Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the Lord.’ So your children might make our children cease to worship the Lord. (Jos 22:24–25)
What did the two-and-a-half tribes fear?
They press the point that the altar they built was a copy of the altar of the LORD, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between them and the rest of the Israelites so they would never be excluded from the nation. (Jos 22:26-29)
Resolving Miscommunication in Worship | Resolution of the Controversy
The response of the two-and-a-half tribes pleased Phinehas, the chiefs, and the people of Israel as a whole. (Jos 22:30-33)
This imposing altar was named Witness, “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.” (Jos 22:34)
Resolving Miscommunication in Worship | Application
What actions could the two-and-a-half tribes have taken to prevent miscommunication with the rest of the tribes of Israel?
How do Joshua 22 and Matthew 18:15-20 compare?
What can you use from this study to help you resolve any miscommunication?
Based on Joshua 22, why is clear communication among fellow believers important in the worship of God?
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Co 13:11)
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn