Joshua 22:21-29

The Easterners, (Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh) claimed their inheritance which was located on the east side of the Jordan River.  The river could be considered a major dividing point, as it was impossible, shy a miracle, to cross in some seasons of the year.  These tribes were fearful of the future, afraid the geographic separation, with the passing of time, would cause them and their story to be forgotten.  They worried that at some point the other tribes would look upon them as the enemy.

Joshua 22:27 (MSG)
"We built this altar as a witness between us and you and our children coming after us, a witness to the Altar where we worship GOD in his Sacred Dwelling with our Whole-Burnt-Offerings and our sacrifices and our Peace-Offerings. "This way, your children won't be able to say to our children in the future, 'You have no part in GOD.'

We never want to be forgotten.  The family memories, the good and the bad times, make up who we are. There are times when we are pulled apart, when a brother or sister packs up their family and moves across country for a new job.  It is difficult to say goodbye and it is a true struggle to hold the family together via long distance.

Even today, with email, texting and all the social networking tool available, families find it a challenge to remain in each other's lives as closely as when they were neighbors. It is easy to see why the Easterners were afraid their role in the tribal family would be forgotten and future generations might see them as different, pagan even, the enemy.  They built the altar to serve as a reminder to the inhabitants of the east and the west, but they were misunderstood.

Is this familar?  Is a relationship in your life strained because of the miles which separate?  "We said to ourselves, 'If anyone speaks disparagingly to us or to our children in the future, we'll say: Look at this model of God's Altar which our ancestors made. It's not for Whole-Burnt-Offerings, not for sacrifices. It's a witness connecting us with you.'" (Joshua 22:28 MSG)

The Israelites made the effort to find out the truth before doing something they would regret later. This is a lesson for us too.  Dig for the truth, not for what things look like.  Listen, talk it over, and remember you are family.

Read Joshua 22:21-29 here

Listen to Joshua 22:21-29 here