Misunderstanding: Conflict Resolution & Holy Preservation Amongst The People Of God

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Call To Worship Scripture

Joshua 22:1–8 ESV
At that time Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the Lord your God. And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 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.” So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents. Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua had given a possession beside their brothers in the land west of the Jordan. And when Joshua sent them away to their homes and blessed them, he said to them, “Go back to your tents with much wealth and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.”
Joshua 22:2–6 ESV
and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the Lord your God. And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 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.” So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.
Joshua 22:
Joshua 22:3–6 ESV
You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the Lord your God. And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 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.” So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.

Sermon Scripture

Joshua 22:32–34 ESV
Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the chiefs, returned from the people of Reuben and the people of Gad in the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to them. And the report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. And the people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them to destroy the land where the people of Reuben and the people of Gad were settled. The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.”
If you hear the word conflict or offense you can be certain that the words missunderstanding, communication or misscomunication isn’t far behind. As a matter of fact missunderstanding and the then inability to communicate or lack of initiative to attempt communication can lead to great tradgedy amoungst the people of God even in the midst of great victory.
In misunderstanding we label angels as demons and demons as angels and see saints as unredeemable beast. All that to say that a simple misunderstanding not properly handled can have big ramifications.
We can see at least four primary causes of conflict in scripture:
1. Some disputes arise because of misunderstandings resulting from poor communication (see ).
2. Differences in values, goals, gifts, calling, priorities, expectations, interests, or opinions can also lead to conflict (see ; ).
3. Competition over limited resources, such as time or money, is a frequent source of disputes in families, churches, and businesses (see ).
4. Many conflicts are caused or aggravated by sinful attitudes and habits that lead to sinful words and actions (see ).
In the text today we see that percieved “good intentions” and change can lead quickly to missunderstanding and potential conflict. We see that pursuit forward without the seeking of God (even in trying to preserve our children and family) can give the apperance of evil and bring conflict amoungst the people of God. We see that hear say without truth sought can further divide and ultimatley we are able to see that when God is put back in proper place and love demonstrated, then rejoicing and worship is renewed.
As there always is, there are two sides to the problem (this is different than saying that everyone is to blame). I am simply saying that communication issues usually result from there being more than one piece to the puzzle, meaning more than one area needs to be addressed. It is no different in todays text. There are two sides to the problem.
The first is communication problems (91/2 tribes)
The second is carnal problems (21/2 tribes
Both of these things will feed the misunderstanding that leads to conflict. As we will see, the only resolve of conflict comes from listening and obeying. Listening to what the truth is, and obeying the Word of God.
Let us observe the text:
Changes & Good Intentions Can Often Lead To Misunderstanding
Introduction: a “borderline believer” is a believer who compromises with the world. Compromising with the world is sin. Far too many of us lose sight of the great inheritance God promises us and begin to focus upon the world. When we look at it and see what it has to offer, we begin to covet the things of the world …
coveting more and more money and the things it buys
seeking illicit sex and fleshly pleasures
• seeking illicit sex and fleshly pleasures
• craving larger houses, properties, and other luxuries
craving larger houses, properties, and other luxuries
desiring more and more recognition, esteem, and honor
• desiring more and more recognition, esteem, and honor
• grasping after higher positions, authority, and power
grasping after higher positions, authority, and power
wanting the fame and attention of the world
• wanting the fame and attention of the world
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📷📷📷📷© craigslist - Map data © OpenStreetMap
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The things of the world can consume the human heart. And far too often, believers become engrossed in the world and become “borderline believers,” believers who are compromising with the world. They become half-hearted followers of Christ.
The East Jordan tribes of Israel had become “borderline believers.” The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had coveted the land of East Jordan. They knew that East Jordan was outside Canaan, was not a part of the promised land of God. However, this fact did not stop these tribes from insisting that Moses allow them to settle there, giving them the land as their part of the inheritance.
The Book of Joshua (King James Version) A. The Final Admonition Given by Joshua to the Eastern Tribes: Warnings that “Borderline Believers” Must Heed to Secure God’s Promised Rest, 22:1–34

A. The Final Admonition Given by Joshua to the Eastern Tribes: Warnings That “Borderline Believers” Must Heed to Secure God’s Promised Rest, 22:1–34

(22:1–34) Introduction: a “borderline believer” is a believer who compromises with the world. Compromising with the world is sin. Far too many of us lose sight of the great inheritance God promises us and begin to focus upon the world. When we look at it and see what it has to offer, we begin to covet the things of the world …

• coveting more and more money and the things it buys

• seeking illicit sex and fleshly pleasures

• craving larger houses, properties, and other luxuries

• desiring more and more recognition, esteem, and honor

• grasping after higher positions, authority, and power

• wanting the fame and attention of the world

The things of the world can consume the human heart. And far too often, believers become engrossed in the world and become “borderline believers,” believers who are compromising with the world. They become half-hearted followers of Christ.

The East Jordan tribes of Israel had become “borderline believers.” The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had coveted the land of East Jordan. They knew that East Jordan was outside Canaan, was not a part of the promised land of God. However, this fact did not stop these tribes from insisting that Moses allow them to settle there, giving them the land as their part of the inheritance. (See outline and notes—Nu. 34:2–15 for more discussion.)

The motive of the East Jordan tribes is a picture of worldly compromise. They became a prime example of “borderline believers.” They were always to be “on the other side,” “across the Jordan.”

This passage begins the last section of the great book of Joshua. Final preparations for living a full and victorious life were now to be made. Joshua would soon leave this earth and go home to be with the LORD. Consequently, he must do all he could to make sure the tribes of Israel lived a full and victorious life before the LORD. This is the subject of the present passage of Scripture: The Final Admonition Given by Joshua to the Eastern Tribes: Warnings That “Borderline Believers” Must Heed to Secure God’s Promised Rest, 22:1–34.

1. The summons and strong commendation given them: a lesson on loyalty, faithfulness, and completing one’s mission (vv.1–3).

2. The “honorable discharge” given them: a picture of securing God’s promised rest (v.4).

3. The strong admonition and charge given them: a lesson on keeping the commandments and law of God (v.5).

4. The wonderful rewards given them for their faithfulness (vv.6–8).

5. The dangerous crisis created by the eastern tribes, the appearance of rebellion: a lesson on guarding against turning away and rebelling against God (vv.9–20).

6. The passionate defense by the apparent rebels: a lesson on the need to remember God and not forget Him (vv.21–29).

7. The reconciliation and unity renewed: a lesson on the need to guard the unity and oneness of spirit among God’s people (vv.30–34).

1 (22:1–3) Faithfulness, Example of—Loyalty, Example of—Perseverance, Example of—Reuben, Tribe of, Faithfulness—Gad, Tribe of, Faithfulness—Manasseh, Tribe of, Faithfulness—East Jordan, Tribes of, Faithfulness: the East Jordan tribes were summoned by Joshua and given a strong commendation. They had been faithful and loyal, and had completed the mission given them, the mission of fighting side by side with their Israelite brothers. Remember, the East Jordan tribes had inherited their land years before the other tribes of Israel. Moses had agreed to give them the East Jordan land only if they helped the other tribes conquer their inheritance. In fact, Moses had given them a very special mission: they had to be in the forefront of the battles, the spearhead division of the army. They were to lead the attack and be the first to engage the enemy. If they were willing to meet this condition, they could have the East Jordan lands as their inheritance.

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had agreed to the terms laid down by Moses. This agreement had taken place over seven years before the present event. These tribes had been faithful, loyal to the mission given them by Moses. They had spearheaded the attacks against the enemies of the promised land, been the first to engage the enemy throughout the seven years of military conquest. The major battles were over, and the promised land had now been conquered. It was time to go home. This was the reason Joshua summoned the tribes of East Jordan to appear before him and the Israelites, appear in military formation and array.

OUTLINE

SCRIPTURE

1. The summons & strong commendation given them: A lesson on loyalty, faithfulness, & completing one’s mission

a. They had been loyal to their leaders

Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

2 And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:

b. They had been loyal to their fellow soldiers, their brothers; had not deserted them

c. They had been loyal to carry out the mission given them by God

3 Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.

Note that Joshua commended the soldiers of the East Jordan tribes for their loyalty to their military commanders and to Moses. Then he commended them for having obeyed his orders throughout the difficult years of battle. But that was not all the commendation they received. Note what Joshua then said: they had been loyal to their fellow soldiers, to their fellow Israelite brothers. They had not deserted them, but rather they had carried out the mission given them by God Himself. They had proven faithful and loyal and had completed the mission given them.

Thought 1. What a dynamic example on faithfulness, loyalty, and completion of one’s mission. Imagine fighting in a war for over seven long years, always being in the spearhead division, always being out front in the battles, always being one of the first to engage the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. Not in just three or four of the battles, but in all the battles over seven long years. This was the mission of the soldiers of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh from the East Jordan territory. And they were faithful in their mission, loyal in persevering to the very end of the conquest of the promised land.

God demands faithfulness, loyalty, and perseverance to the end of our mission upon earth. We are to complete the call, the task God has given us to do. We are to persevere to the very end, laying hold of the inheritance God has promised us. The call of the hour is for men and women, boys and girls who will be faithful to God and His mission of reaching the world so that every human being can inherit the promised land of God. To achieve the mission of God, faithful and loyal witnesses are needed—witnesses who will persevere to the very end. Just as the East Jordan tribes helped their fellow brothers of Israel, so we must help our fellow brothers and sisters all over this world, help them to achieve their inheritance of the promised land. We must be faithful in reaching out to assist them, loyal and persevering to the very end.

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Mt. 10:22).

“And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities” (Lu. 19:17).

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Co. 4:2).

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the LORD” (1 Co. 15:58).

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Ga. 6:9).

“And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after” (He. 3:5).

“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” (He. 3:6).

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (He. 12:1).

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pe. 1:13).

“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Pe. 3:13–14).

“But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day” (Jos. 23:8).

2 (22:4) Military, Example of Service, Honorable Discharge—Spiritual Rest—Hope, Example of—East Jordan, Tribes of, Honor of: the East Jordan tribes received an “honorable discharge” from Joshua. They had been fighting for over seven long years, fighting and struggling to defeat the enemies of the promised land. They had witnessed the screams and horrors of war: the bloodshed, mutilated bodies, missing limbs, and agonizing death of soldier after soldier. But through it all they had been faithful in helping their Israelite brothers secure victory over the enemies of the promised land. For seven long years they had been waging the battle against the enemy, never able to return home to their families, wives, children, parents, and loved ones. But now, since the victory had been won, the promised land was at rest. The tribes of Israel could now experience the promised rest that God had pledged to give them. Since the promised rest had been achieved, the East Jordan tribes could now receive an “honorable discharge” and go home. (See notes—Jos. 1:10–15; 11:23, pt. 5; 14:15; 21:44, pt. 2, 23:1–2 for more discussion.)

OUTLINE

SCRIPTURE

2. The “honorable discharge” given them: A picture of securing God’s promised rest

a. They had helped their brothers achieve God’s rest

b. They could now go home

4 And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.

Thought 1. God promises to give us spiritual rest, the rest of body and the rest of soul. The rest of God means peace of heart and mind, the assurance of security and protection, purpose and meaning, fulfillment and satisfaction in life. Simply stated, God’s rest means that we live the victorious life over all the enemies that try to defeat and destroy us day by day; that we know the peace and security of God’s presence, provision, and guidance.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Mt. 11:28–29).

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (Jn. 4:14).

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (Jn. 6:35).

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jn. 14:27).

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world” (He. 4:1–3).

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (He. 4:9–11).

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the LORD from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Re. 14:13).

“And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest” (Ex. 33:14).

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Ps. 17:15).

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Ps. 23:1–6).

“For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (Ps. 107:9).

“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee” (Ps. 116:7).

“To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (Is. 28:12).

“For thus saith the LORD GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not” (Is. 30:15).

3 (22:5) Charge, Duty—Admonition, Duty—Commandment, Duty—Law of God, Duty: the East Jordan tribes were given a strong admonition and charge by Joshua. As these tribes returned home, one thing was an absolute essential: they must continue to be faithful to the LORD. They must keep God’s commandments, always obey Him. If they were not faithful, if they failed to obey God and keep His commandments—they would lose the promised land. They would lose their inheritance. The spiritual rest they were now experiencing would be gone. All their hopes and dreams would be wiped out, crushed, and dashed upon the rocks of despair. Joshua had to do all he could to prevent this from ever happening. Therefore, he gave a strong admonition to the tribes: they must be careful, very careful, to be faithful to God. They must take careful heed to keep the commandments and law of God. Joshua issued four strong charges to the East Jordan tribes:

OUTLINE

SCRIPTURE

3. The strong admonition & charge given them: A lesson on keeping the commandments & law of God

a. Must love God

b. Must walk in the ways of God

c. Must obey God

d. Must hold fast to God

e. Must serve God

5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

a. The East Jordan tribes must be careful to love the LORD their God. Loving God is the first and greatest commandment. God’s people must love Him with all their heart, mind, body, soul, and strength. Note how practical the commandment is when it spells out mind, body, soul, and strength.

“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mk. 12:29–30).

“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness” (Col. 3:14).

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 21).

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (De. 6:5).

“O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer” (Ps. 31:23).

b. The East Jordan tribes must be careful to walk in the ways of the LORD. They professed to be believers, the people of God; therefore, they must follow God. They must walk after the LORD, walk in the path He had laid out before them, and follow all His ways.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Co. 5:7).

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Ga. 5:16).

“I therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ep. 4:1).

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ep. 5:2).

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ep. 5:15).

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the LORD, so walk ye in him” (Col. 2:6).

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:7).

“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 Jn. 2:6).

“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, LORD God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints” (Re. 15:3).

“As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him” (Ps. 18:30).

“He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting” (Hab. 3:6).

c. The East Jordan tribes must obey the LORD, keep His holy commandments (v.5). God’s promises were based upon obedience. If the people obeyed the LORD, they would be blessed by Him; but if they disobeyed Him, they would be cursed (De. 11:26–28). Furthermore, a person who truly loves the LORD keeps His holy commandments. A person’s love for God is proven by his or her obedience.

“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known” (De. 11:26–28).

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Jos. 1:8).

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Mt. 7:21–23).

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (Jn. 14:21).

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (Jn. 15:10).

d. The East Jordan tribes must be careful to cling and hold fast to God. They must stand firm and never let go of the LORD. They professed to know the LORD and to follow Him; therefore, they must never let go of their profession. They must remain true to Him, true in their devotion and worship of Him.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Lu. 9:23).

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Ph. 3:7–8).

“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” (He. 3:6).

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised” (He. 10:23).

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Pr. 3:5).

“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways” (Pr. 23:26).

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me” (Is. 43:10).

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Je. 29:13).

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning” (Joel 2:12).

e. The East Jordan tribes must be careful to serve God; and note, they must serve the LORD with all their heart and all their soul. They must guard themselves against false gods and false religions. Their loyalty was due God and God alone. For God and God alone had given them the wonderful inheritance of the promised land. It was He and He alone who had empowered them to conquer all the enemies who had tried to defeat and destroy them, attempting to steal their inheritance from them. Because of who the LORD is and because of what the LORD had done for them, they were to serve the LORD with all their heart and all their soul.

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (Jn. 20:21).

“He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, LORD; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep” (Jn. 21:16).

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Ga. 6:2).

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Ga. 6:10).

“With good will doing service, as to the LORD, and not to men” (Ep. 6:7).

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (He. 12:28).

“And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee” (Ex. 23:25).

“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (De. 10:12).

“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Ps. 2:11).

4 (22:6–8) Blessings, Reward for Obedience—Obedience, Reward for—East Jordan, Tribes of, Reward for Obedience: the East Jordan tribes were given a wonderful reward for their faithfulness and loyalty. Joshua blessed them and then dismissed them, sending them back home to their families. But note, as they returned, they received great wealth from the spoils and plunder of war. They were given large herds of livestock, with large quantities of silver, gold, bronze, iron, and clothing (v.8.) Also note: the plunder was to be shared with all the people who had stayed back home to look after their families and to protect and maintain their property while they were off fighting for the promised land.

OUTLINE

SCRIPTURE

4. The wonderful rewards given them for their faithfulness

a. They were dismissed & sent home to their inherited land

1) The one half-tribe of Manasseh that had received land in Bashan (East Jordan) left

2) The other half-tribe stayed in West Jordan

6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.

7 Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,

b. They received great wealth from the spoils of war

c. They were encouraged to share their wealth: Share with those back home who had supported them

8 And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.

Thought 1. The East Jordan tribes were greatly rewarded for their faithfulness to the LORD in fighting for the promised land. They had proven to be faithful and loyal, persevering to the end to accomplish the mission given them. Consequently, they were greatly rewarded.

Faithfulness to God will be rewarded. God promises to give us great rewards if we will just be faithful and loyal to Him. Note what God declares:

(1) The soul-winner will be rewarded.

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Da. 12:3).

(2) The humble believer will be rewarded.

“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” (Mt. 10:42).

(3) The faithful servant will be rewarded.

“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Mt. 25:23).

(4) The believer who loves and does good will be rewarded.

“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Lu. 6:35).

“But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile” (Ro. 2:10).

“Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the LORD, whether he be bond or free” (Ep. 6:8).

(5) The righteous will be rewarded.

“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Mt. 13:43).

(6) The true child of God will be rewarded.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Ro. 8:16–17).

(7) The believer who has a heavenly character and behavior will be rewarded.

“For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the LORD Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Ph. 3:20–21).

(8) The person who seeks things that are above, the things of Christ, will be rewarded.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:1–4).

(9) The servants of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, will be rewarded.

“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the LORD God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Re. 22:3–5).

(10) The believer who endures and perseveres to the end will be rewarded.

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Mt. 10:22).

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the LORD” (1 Co. 15:58).

“Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Ti. 2:10).

(11) The believer who trusts Christ and serves Him will be rewarded.

“If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour” (Jn. 12:26).

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (Jn. 14:1–3).

“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (Jn. 17:24).

(12) The believer who suffers persecution will be rewarded.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Mt. 5:11–12).

“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Ti. 2:12).

(13) The person who separates from the world and turns to the LORD will be rewarded.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the LORD, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the LORD Almighty” (2 Co. 6:17–18).

(14) The person who rejects the treasures of the world for the treasures of heaven will be rewarded.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Mt. 6:19–20).

Words of encouragement for a new beginning v1-8
After the major battles had been won and the land had been divided, Joshua had some words of encouragement that he wanted to impart to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh before they returned home.
I. Words of encouragement for a new beginning v1-8
It had been over 7 years since they had left their homes and loves ones to fulfill their promise to fight the Canaanites.
a. It had been over 7 years since they had left their homes and loves ones to fulfill their promise to fight the Canaanites.
Remember these 2 ½ tribes did not take their inheritance in the land with the other tribes, but instead asked to remain east of the Jordan River.
Joshua’s words of encouragement
First, Joshua commends them for keeping their promise. (vv.1-3)
They had been loyal to their leaders
They had been loyal to their fellow soldiers, their brothers; and had not deserted them
They had been loyal to carry out the mission given them by God
Loyalty, and faithfulness unto the completion of ones mission is a strong theme throughout Joshua and scripture that is connected to leading one unto their promised rest and inheritance.
Second, Joshua discharged them from their service (honerably) (v4)
They helped their brothers achieve God’s rest
They can now go home
Third, Joshua admonishes them to be dilligent in worship and obedience to God (v.5)
Must love God
Must walk in the ways of God
Must obey God
Must hold fast to God
Must serve God
Finally, Joshua blesses them with reward and reminds them to share their spoils with those who had remained behind protecting their families while they were gone (vv.6-8)
d. Finally, Joshua blesses them and reminds them to share their spoils with those who had remained behind protecting their families while they were gone (vv.6-8).
Lessons we can learn.
First, there is the lesson of being true to your word and being totally obedient to God
James 5:12 ESV
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
1 John 2:5 ESV
but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
B. Lessons we can learn.
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
1. First, there is the lesson of being true to your word and being totally obedient to God
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Second, there's a lesson when about being committed to that which God has called you to do.
a. Commitment is a dirty word to some folks.
Commitment is a dirty word to some folks.
They want to enjoy the benefits of a life for God without making a commitment.
Others make a commitment, but quit along the way…giving up before they finish the task.
1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
1 Co 9:24
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
These tribes had spent over 7 years of their lives at the task that they had promised to do, and they didn't stop until that task was finished.
Third, there is a lesson about sharing in the blessings of service.
While not everyone got to go and fight, they all received the spoils of the war.
In church life, not everyone can be involved in every ministry, but we all can rejoice in the blessings.
Every one of us supplies a necessary part to the whole.
We are all a part of this local body of Christ, and we share the blessings of God.
Ephesians 4:16 ESV
from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
What happened? v9-10
1. Leaving Shiloh, the armies of the Eastern tribes headed excitedly for home.
2. As they approached the Jordan River their minds were probably flooded with memories of the miraculous things that God had done for them.
a. The miraculous crossing of the Jordan River seven years before.
b. The remarkable victory over nearby Jericho, and of the other triumphs shared with their brothers from whom they had so recently separated.
c. They also took to heart the charge that Joshua had given them in v5.
3. They decided to build a huge altar, one that could be seen from a great distance that would bare witness to the generations to come.
4. They knew that the true basis of their unity was their common worship centered in the sacrifices at the altar.
5. Often what we intend as good, somehow turns into something else.
Leaving Shiloh, the armies of the Eastern tribes headed excitedly for home.
As they approached the Jordan River their minds were probably flooded with memories of the miraculous things that God had done for them.
The miraculous crossing of the Jordan River seven years before.
The remarkable victory over nearby Jericho, and of the other triumphs shared with their brothers from whom they had so recently separated.
They also took to heart the charge that Joshua had given them in v5.
They decided to build a huge altar, one that could be seen from a great distance that would bare witness to the generations to come.
They knew that the true basis of their unity was their common worship centered in the sacrifices at the altar.
Often what we intend as good, somehow turns into something else.
This large and impressive altar by the Jordan River was also an unauthorized one that gave the appearance of rebellion and of breaking off from the other tribes (the exact opposite of the intent).
The Misunderstanding (v11-20)
Two Deadly Words "hear say" v11
A. Two Deadly Words "heard say" v11
The other tribes became greatly offended at the actions of the 2 ½ tribes.
Many people get offended by what they hear, because they assume the worst!
That is our nature…we naturally assume that what we hear and our assumptions about it are true.
Proverbs 18:13 ESV
If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
James 1:19–20 ESV
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
The tribes were ready to go to war with their brethren, because of what they assumed to be true. v12
First, the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half tribe of Manasseh were guilty of unwise actions.
Without explanation they had erected a huge altar, where the Israelites had crossed over Jordan on dry ground, without explanation to the other tribes.
It looked like they were putting up an altar in competition with the memorial the Lord had erected there to commemorate the crossing of Jordan.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV
Abstain from every form of evil.
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
The second mistake is often put on the part of the other tribes who hastily jumped to conclusions about the altar without first investigating. However I am not sure that I see the text that way. When you take everything into account then you must remember how harshly God had dealt with similar situations where
A tribe or people decided to do something that was not authorized by God
Gave themselves to idolatrous worship
In each case God had been seen dealing swiftly and even brining judgment down upon the entire nation. Therefore...
Being on guard is wise, becoming very belligerent about it is not, knowing the seriousness of it is wise, jumping to conclusions is not.
As such the other tribes gathered their warriors back to Shiloh to go to war against the two and a half tribes.
note: if the hear say was true and verified then the seriousness would be huge…but we do not go to a brother to bring war based upon hear say.
However I do believe that we must
Wisdom is shown in a delegation being sent prior to war.
Wisdom is learned in how dangerous hear say can be. If the leaders would have jumped to action based on the hear say or perception then it would have been a tragic disaster. Perception happens and false perception happens often…before accusation and certainly before action, verify perception as truth.
With how close this situation was to being very bad, we can however learn from some perhaps misteps of nine and one-half tribes:
Hearsay and rumor ()
To act on hearsay and rumor is good if it is to put a stop to it, but to act upon it as truth is a dangerous step that leads swiftly to division.
React without checking the facts ()
It is foolishness to get worked up about an issue before checking all of the facts. It is actually the worst kind of foolishness that can lead you to looking a fool and make resolution more difficult thanks to that old foe pride.
Proverbs 18:13
Proverbs 18:13 ESV
If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
Use God’s name loosely ()
This happens when we hear something and our righteous indignation flares up. We tend to use the name of the Lord to justify or elevate our igdination
Bearing false witness isn’t just telling a huge lie about another, it can also be giving the right information, but with the wrong implication.
This is most often how I have seen it fleshed out in the church…more of a jumping to ones own conclusion than a bold face lie. A you did this so you must be guilty of that…ie. “You built a altar so you must be guilty of idolatry.”
The Delegation from Shiloh v13-20
Even with the missteps before and during, the delegation does eventually get to where it needs to be...
The delegation charged them with turning away and rebelling against God.
They reminded them of God's judgment of those who previously had followed Baal.
Deuteronomy 4:3 ESV
Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal-peor, for the Lord your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor.
Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.
Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.
They also reminded them of the judgment against Achan.
They asked searching questions
How could they “trespass,” betray, break faith with God?
How could they turn away & rebel against Him?
They asked the deciding question:
Are you now turning away from the LORD?
Rebellion would result in judgment upon the entire nation.
They demonstrated a costly love, a willingness to pay any price to restore their lost brothers: Offered to share their own land with their brothers
They appealed for them not to rebel against God by building an altar for false worship
The Resolution of the Conflict v21-30
I believe a bit of carnality is shown here in the 2-1/2 tribes.
People with a carnal heart hide their disobedience in spiritual superiority. ()
“Don’t judge me,” says the carnal believer. “God knows my heart.” Yes, God does know our hearts. The problem is, we don’t. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah asks. (). We can’t know our own heart—but the Word of God can because it is a “discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (). Therefore, it doesn’t matter what your heart tells you. It matters what God’s Word declares.
People with a carnal heart blame God
Secondly, carnal people blame the Lord either directly or indirectly for any given problem. Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh blamed the Lord for the division. Carnal people blame the Lord—and sometimes others—for their own sins and shortcomings.
For the Lord has made the Jordan a border between us and you descendants of Reuben and Gad. You have no share in the Lord!’ …” (, HCSB)
Then the man replied, “The woman You gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”” (Genesis 3:12, HCSB)
Secondly, carnal people blame the Lord either directly or indirectly for any given problem. Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh blamed the Lord for the division. Carnal people blame the Lord—and sometimes others—for their own sins and shortcomings.
Then the man replied, “The woman You gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”” (, HCSB)
People with a carnal heart blame their family problems on churches and other believers. ()
Thirdly, carnal people blame their family problems on churches or other believers. Blaming the church is always an indication of carnality. “If your kids were better behaved, our kids wouldn’t be rebellious,” says the carnal parents. It is the mature believer who understands that it’s not up to the church, Boy Scouts, or the school system to raise his kids. It’s up to him. When his kids struggle, it’s the mature believer who says, “Lord, Ihave dropped the ball. Show me what I need to do.”
People with a carnal heart want worship without church accountability. ()
Finally, carnal believers say, “I’m going to worship how I want to worship, where I want to worship, in the way I want to worship.” God never told the two and one-half tribes to build an altar. He wanted His people to gather around the single altar of the tabernacle. But the two and one-half tribes did it their way.
Finally, carnal believers say, “I’m going to worship how I want to worship, where I want to worship, in the way I want to worship.” God never told the two and one-half tribes to build an altar. He wanted His people to gather around the single altar of the tabernacle. But the two and one-half tribes did it their way.
The same is still true today. Carnal Christians say, “I can worship just as well out on the golf course as I can in church.” The Word, however, clearly says, “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together” () and “Behold, how good, and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” ().
The same is still true today. Carnal Christians say, “I can worship just as well out on the golf course as I can in church.” The Word, however, clearly says, “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together” () and “Behold, how good, and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” ().
It began with an appeal to God and truth.
The appeal was that God knew the truth and if they were guilty of the accusations then they should not be spared
The second defence was that if they were guilty then the LORD Himself should hold them accountable and punish them
if they had turned away from Him
If they had built an altar for false worship
A little investigation will put an end to much misunderstanding.
It was true then for Israel, and it is still true today for us!
We make to many assumptions based on what we have heard and not what we actually know.'
If someone doesn't care enough about the truth to seek it out, then they ought to keep quiet!
If they hadn't taken the time to investigate the actions of the 2 ½ tribes, there would have been a bloody civil war!
It seems they, like us, were more eager to fight among themselves, than to do battle against the real enemy!
Listen to the other side of the story. v21-29
The accused tribes made it clear that they weren't setting up a rival religion.
Because the altar they built wasn't for sacrifices, but rather, they were putting up a witness that would remind the tribes west of the Jordan that Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were still a part of the Jewish nation.
The altar was a "replica" of the Lord's altar, but the altar wasn't for sacrifice, it was intended to be a memorial that would testify to the future generations that the Eastern Tribes were indeed a part of the nation of Israel
Note that the response of the 2 ½ tribes to the charges wasn't given in anger but instead their answer was given in sincerity even humility and a affirmation of loyalty.
Proverbs 15:1 ESV
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
The Eastern Tribes weren't trying to hide anything, nor were they trying to lie to cover up what they had done.
They were open and honest about what they had done and their intentions behind it.
While building an altar probably wasn't the smartest thing that they could have done, their intentions in doing so were honorable.
Settle the issue and put to rest v30-34
The answer that the Eastern Tribes gave to the leaders of Israel was acceptable, and they were reassured that there was no evil intentions in the Western Tribes action.
Then the leaders returned to the other side of Jordan and informed the Western Tribes that the rumors where false and thus they put an end to any further misunderstandings.
In response to the news the 9 ½ tribes on the west of the Jordan were glad and praised God.
The Eastern Tribes called the altar "Ed" meaning that it was a witness between the tribes on both sides of the Jordan that the Lord is the true God.
Isn’t it amazing that God can turn a missunderstanding, a conflict into a marker of unity.
The Application for Today.
When we have a misunderstanding with another person or if we are hearing rumors about them, then we need to go and check it out.
Note: The best way to do this is to invite the one who is telling the rumor to go with you to talk with the person.
Note: The best way to do this is to invite the one who is telling the rumor to go with you to talk with the person.
If we care about the person, we will want to be sure to put an end to needless rumors or misunderstandings.We need to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.We need to make sure we have our facts right before take any kind of action.We need to be able to have an open and honest discussion, in the spirit of gentleness and not arrogance.If we find that it was a misunderstanding, then we need to put all rumors to rest, and make sure that the issued is settled.
If we care about the person, we will want to be sure to put an end to needless rumors or misunderstandings.
We need to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.
We need to make sure we have our facts right before take any kind of action.
We need to be able to have an open and honest discussion, in the spirit of gentleness and not arrogance.
If we find that it was a misunderstanding, then we need to put all rumors to rest, and make sure that the issued is settled.
What's in a person's heart will ultimately be revealed in how they respond to the truth. If someone is truly seeking what is right and what is best for the body of believers then they will rejoice when a problem has been resolved. But if their intentions are not right to begin with, then they will never be happy with the answers they receive and will look for other reasons to bring discord among the brethren.
There is a fine line seen between seeking truth and seeking discord. And that fine line is found in the heart as identified in the admonition of Joshua to remeber God and serve God.
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