Confrontation

Joshua 22:15-18: "When they (Phinehas the priest and chief men from each tribe) went to Gilead-to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh-they said to them: 'The whole assembly of the LORD says: 'How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the LORD and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against Him now? Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? . . . . Are you now turning away from the LORD? . . . . If you rebel against the LORD today, tomorrow He will be angry with the whole community of Israel.' "

In this chapter, one finds a very interesting occurrence. The people of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had finished their calling to assist their fellow Israelites in settling in the Promised Land; now, they returned to the land east of the Jordan River to set up their homes.

Soon thereafter, word got to the priest and other leaders that these people who had settled east of the Promised Land had built an "imposing altar by the Jordan . . . . on the border of Canaan on the Israelite side." The concern of the Israelites in the Promised Land was for the Reubenites and others who apparently were building a "worship substitute" for the tabernacle of the Lord. The priest and the other leaders decided that these Israelites needed to be confronted about their sin of rebellion against God's established place of worship.

Phinehas the priest and the other Israelite leaders met with their brothers and asked them why they would "break faith with the God of Israel . . . (by) turning away from the LORD and building an altar in rebellion." They then cited the rebellion of the Israelites at Peor (Numbers 25) when the Israelites commingled with the Moabites, resulting in their worshipping Baal. They further shared God's manifestation of wrath upon the Israelites at Peor, which resulted in the death of 24,000. These leaders warned that God's anger would be roused against them for their rebellion just like their forefathers at Peor, if they did not repent and turn from such acts of defiance.

To Phinehas and the other's delight, the Reubenites, Gadites, and people from Manasseh shared that their purpose in building an altar was not to rebel against the Lord, but to establish a permanent monument for descendants to come, so that all would know that these tribes who settled east of the Jordan would serve the True God at His proscribed sanctuary. The altar was to let the tribes of the Promised Land know that their settling outside the borders of the Promised Land did not mean that they were no longer God's chosen people. These people were resolved to serve the Lord faithfully. No one in the Promised Land would have the right to say that those brothers who settled outside the land should have no right to "share in the Lord" (22:27).

Phinehas and the other leaders were pleased to hear such a report of allegiance to God. They celebrated that their brothers had not acted unfaithfully, but were setting up a witness for all the Israelites to see that they were as committed to the Lord. The Reubenites and their fellow eastern brothers gave the altar the following name as a testament to their faithfulness: "A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God."

This story has a wonderful outcome, in that all the Israelites affirmed their commitment to God; still, the leaders of the tribes in the Promised Land were willing to take the initiatory step of confrontation to inquire as to the motivation of the Reubenites and others in building the altar at the Jordan River. They went with the determination of identifying the apparent sin in these brothers' lives, and they were willing to share the history of their forefathers' rebellion as evidence of God's judgment for rebellion.

As I read this passage, I am reminded of Galatians 6:1. Galatians 6 tells us that we are called to confront one who is caught in sin, with the hope of restoration. The proper response for us when we perceive other believers in sin is to confront in a spirit of love and gentleness, but also to confront with the determination that we will address the sin at hand.

God has called us to be a community of faith (Hebrews 10:25), and to sharpen one another (Proverbs 27:17). May we all be motivated to address the sin in each other's lives with gentleness but firmness. And may we all be receptive to our brothers approaching us when we have sin in our lives. This expression of mutual edification will aid us in avoiding the alluring attacks by the Devil and will help us in reaching our potential for the LORD.