📕 Joshua 22: 11-12
“When the Israelites heard that they (Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh) had built the altar on the border of Canaan… the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them “.

CONFLICT : CAUSE AND CURE
The WESTERN TRIBES strongly reacted to the EASTERN TRIBES for erecting an imposing altar at Geliloth near the Jordan river. What was the reason ?

📝 According to Deuteronomy 12:4-14 , God had insisted that the Israelites were not to worship him in their own way but were to worship only at the place where he would choose ” to put His Name there for his dwelling “( v 4-5 )

📝 Joshus 18:1 mentioned that ” the whole assembly of Israelites gathered and set up the Tent of Meeting at Shiloh “.
📌 The concept of a single altar demonstrate the unity of the Israelites under one God 🙌

THE ROOT CAUSE OF CONFLICT

📌 WRONG PLACE
Building a memorial altar was practiced during that time. But to built a memorial by the EASTERN TRIBES on the land that belongs to the WESTERN TRIBES was one of the cause.
✍🏻 Lesson for us : Never use your freedom to do this or that because it will hurt / offend others .

📌 WRONG INTERPRETATION
1) The WESTERN TRIBES understood that the erection of the altar by the EASTERN TRIBES was an act of rebellion against the law of Moses.

2) It also symbolises a declaration of independence .
✍🏻 Lesson for us : A wrong / selfish interpretation will bring bitter taste in the Relationship.

📌 WRONG DECISION
After hearing the erection of an imposing altar the WESTERN TRIBES gathered and decided to go to war against their own brothers without knowing the truth. If so then there would have been a lot of bloodshed.
✍🏻 Lesson for us : A wrong decision will cause a great loss and will haunt us till the end.

📌 RIGHT WAY TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT
1) The WESTERN TRIBES dispatched Phinehas to raise the issue with the EASTERN TRIBES ( v 13-20 ) and to find out the truth.

2) The EASTERN TRIBES were not aggressive when they were charged of breaking Moses’ law. Instead they were polite and conveyed their purpose of erecting the altar ( v 22-29 )

3) The civil war was averted. There was joy amongst them ( v 33 )
✍🏻 Lesson for us :
The accuser must go directly to the offender to settle down a case and the so called offender must show humility in order to resolve the issues / misunderstanding.

✝️ Jesus said, “if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listen you, you have gained your brother ” ( Matthew 18:15 )

🔖 MY OBSERVATION
Today’s passage :
✅ Affirms that there was to be ONLY ONE legitimate place of worship in Israel 🇮🇱
✅ This legitimate worship will demonstrates the unity of the TRIBES 💪
✅ All conflicts can be resolved in a peaceful manner through DIALOGUE 🤝

💞 Beloved Church, we are called to be a PEACEMAKER and follow His Word to defuse the CONFLICTS before they burst out 🧨

Glory to God 🙌
✍🏻 Mark Boje
Arunachal Pradesh, India 🇮🇳