Thursday, July 15, 2010

Joshua 22-
Before the Eastern tribes ( Reubenites, Gadites, Manassha half-tribe) had returned home, Joshua gathered them and blessed them saying, "You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you. Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
But, when they were leaving, the Eastern tribes built an alter near the Jordan and the Israelites thought they were breaking faith with the God of Israel and turning away for the Lord. The Israelites knew from past experiences that the wrath of God would be on the whole community of Israel, so the whole assembly of Israel gathered to go to war against them. But the Eastern tribes reassured the Israelites that they built the alter to the Lord and to witness before the generations to follow that they also have a share in the Lord.