A Genocide Narrowly Avoided by Slowing Down Judgment

We are all processing the world we are observing and trying to make sense of things. Jason Kovacs points out that we think in three steps: observation, interpretation, and judgement. These steps can lead us down a divisive path condemning one another. But the Gospel should deeply transform our thinking creating a unity of love in our communities.

In Joshua 22 a very curious and almost disastrous incident occurred between 10 of the tribes of Israel in Canaan and their 2.5 tribes of brothers on the other side of the Jordan.

The Observation:
The tribes of Rueben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh were headed back over the Jordan River to live their lives. They had fulfilled their commitment to help the other 10 tribes conquer the land. They were commanded by Joshua to “only be careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” We can assume that they heartily agreed though the text doesn’t say so. They had been faithful to the Lord and to keep their word.
Upon reaching the Jordan River, before they crossed over, they stopped and built an altar “of imposing size”. The text doesn’t tell us at that moment why they did that, just that they did it.

The Interpretation:

The word gets out about this altar to the other tribes of Israel. Here is what the news sounded like: “The people of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh have intentionally sabotaged our land on their way out! They have built an alter to idols just so God will destroy us! And then they headed over the river!”
The response to this news was strong. The tribes gathered from all over Canaan where the people were working to build their homes and settle their newly conquered land. They were ready for a fight but this time against their own brothers. “Better that they die for their idolatry than that we all die! They deserve it!”

The Delayed Judgment:

So all of the tribes came together to fight their brothers, to destroy them, in a righteous battle. BUT before they struck them down they sent a delegation of heads from each of the tribes led by Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest. Phinehas speaks in verses 16-20 basically saying, “Why in the world would you guys do something like that? Why would you build an idolatrous altar when you know that Jehovah will destroy us all for that? Now we have to destroy you in order to not incur the wrath of Jehovah.”

At this opportunity the surprised leaders of the 2.5 tribes cry out words of allegiance the Jehovah, the equivalent of “Allahu Akbar” in Arabic: “The Mighty One, God Jehovah!” They were stunned. Then they explained:
“If we were building that altar to idols then you should kill us. BUT God knows why we built it and we want you to know: We built a huge replica of “the altar of the Lord” because we want it to last for many generations. And we built it on your side of the river so that your children would know that our children will not forget Jehovah just because a river separates us. We did not sacrifice on that altar since the altar in the tabernacle is the only one where sacrifices are to be offered. We did not rebel in our hearts against God!”

Phinehas heard these words and was relieved. He must have realized at this point that someone had made some assumptions about the heart motives of these tribes. He took that news back to the lines of warriors and everyone was relieved. They all went home and got on with the important job of settling the land.

Kovacs helps us with a pithy conclusion: “Relationships thrive when we slow down our thinking.”

How good are you at recognizing the difference between facts and interpretations of those facts?

How do you think the Gospel should impact this process?

Have you ever assumed an evil motive from the action of another only to later learn that you were wrong? Is it hard at that moment to admit you were wrong?

What can we learn about how to handle “worst case” interpretations when they are brought to us…even when accompanied by credible witnesses and “proof”?
We don’t take our literal swords out against brothers and sisters anymore. What are some modern ways we “kill” based on our judgements of others?

This old pattern of fallen thinking can be devastating. Churches can be split, relationships lost, the name of Christ maligned in the world and more when Christians fail to let brotherly love work its way into our interpretations and judgements of one another.