A Disaster Averted

Joshua 22

            After all is said and done, the eastern tribes (called the Trans-Jordan tribes, because they live on the other side of the Jordan) return to the land Moses had given them. Unfortunately, on the way, they build an altar and the remaining tribes are furious. How dare they turn away from the Lord so quickly? Fortunately, unlike other instances in Israel’s history, they don’t just jump to conclusions and go to war. Instead they send a delegation to ask for an explanation. It turns out the altar is meant as a testimony for the Trans-Jordan tribes themselves, that their loyalty is to the Lord and that they are to worship only where He puts His name.

            Lessons? It’s good to look before you leap. Sometimes asking for an explanation in a spirit of reconciliation avoids unnecessary ugliness. Second, sometimes our best intentions need explanation. It doesn’t pay to get on our high horse and assume people should have known what we intended. Proverbs 15:1 remains good advice, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh world stirs up anger.”