In today’s daily devotional on Joshua 22, the narrative captures a pivotal moment as the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who had aided in the conquest of the Promised Land, return to their lands east of the Jordan River. Their departure, however, sparks a serious misunderstanding among the Israelites. This chapter highlights the importance of communication and clarity, especially when assumptions can lead to conflict. Have you ever found yourself tangled in a mess due to a misread situation? As you read or listen to Joshua 22, reflect on the dynamics of misunderstanding and the value of open dialogue in resolving conflicts. To read about all of God’s promises to Joshua that came to pass, read the daily devotional on Joshua 21.
Joshua 22 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
In Joshua 22, the tribes that helped Israel gain the Promised Land get to return home to the other side of the Jordan. When they do, a misunderstanding occurs. Have you ever misread a situation and ended up in a mess? Please read or listen to Joshua 22.
What Is the Key Point of Joshua?
In 1995, I read Joshua 21 and 22 on the same day. Concerning chapter 22, I wrote, “Joshua’s advice to tribes going back across the Jordan, ‘But take careful heed . . . to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul’” (v. 5 NKJV).
In 2004, reading Joshua 20-22 on the same day, I wrote mostly about chapter 22. “The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh were faithful to God, to their word, and to their family brothers. They fulfilled the promise to help their brothers possess the Promised Land, did all that Joshua asked them, never complained, and waited patiently for their release. What a great illustration of how to act. They went home with Joshua’s blessing, and, most likely, God’s favor.”
In 2013, I split this chapter into two different days. On the first day, I read Joshua 22:1-9, and wrote, “Two and half tribes, who were given land by Moses east of the Jordan River on condition they would help the remaining tribes conquer the Promised Land, had kept their promise and obeyed Joshua. The land was now at peace so Joshua releases them to go to their tents. They are to go, ‘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’ (v. 5). They went back with much wealth. The spoil from victory was shared among all the tribes.”
What Was the Purpose of the Altar in Joshua 22?
The next day, I finished Joshua 22:10 through the end and wrote, “Assumptions and misunderstandings. An altar of impressive size is built on the bank of the Jordan River. The Israelites accused the two and a half tribes returning to the eastern side of the Jordan of a breach of faith and prepared a war against them. But the two and half tribes erected a replica of the altar at Shiloh as witness that they worshiped the same God. Before assuming, ask, talk, listen to people.”
What Can I Learn from Joshua 22?
We will close our time in Joshua 22 by referring back to a few power verses in this chapter, beginning with verse 5, “Only be very 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.” Are you careful to observe all His commandments? Are you in love with the Lord your God? Are you walking in all His ways? Are you keeping His commandments? Do you cling to the Lord and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul?
Next, verses 26 and 27, “Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, “You have no portion in the Lord.”’” How do you bear witness to your generation and to generations to come? What are you building, or what have you built, to ensure the witness of the Lord and the presence of faith in your own life?
Finally, verse 34, “The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, ‘For,’ they said, ‘it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.’” How does your life show a witness the Lord is God? Let’s pray.
Prayer
Father, we thank You for the lessons in Joshua 22, the admonition we are to love You with all our heart and all our soul. We are to build a life that is a witness for You, and our witness, our lives, will be a testimony to the generations that follow. Help us, Lord, leave something of value, something that declares the Lord is truly our God. And all the people said, amen.
