Today We Know – March 25, 2009

Today We Know

Joshua 22:31

Jim Stephens

03-25-09

 

Scripture:

 

Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, replied to them, “Today we know the Lord is among us because you have not committed this treachery against the Lord as we thought. Instead, you have rescued Israel from being destroyed by the hand of the Lord.” (Joshua 22:31 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

The warriors of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had served their brother tribes faithfully and stayed with them as part of Israel’s army until the land west of the Jordan was conquered.  When they left for home, they built a memorial altar of stone at the crossing of the Jordan as a reminder that they too were part of God’s nation.  When word got out about the altar, the rest of Israel assumed wrongly that they were becoming idol worshippers and sent an army to destroy them.

 

Thank God for clear-headed Phinehas the high priest who went along and took the trouble to ask some questions before the arrows and spears started flying.  The simple truth came out, civil war was averted, and the nation held together.

 

Application:

 

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:11, “These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.”   I need to learn not to jump to conclusions.  Like Phinehas, I need to take the lead in not assuming the worst about others, in checking the facts before speaking or acting, in working for peace and mutual understanding.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Please help me to listen carefully and make sure I have heard both sides of each issue before I form an opinion or make a judgment.  I want to be a responder to truth and not a reactor to rumor or accusation.  I want to be a peacemaker.  Amen.