Every once in a while, I get myself into a situation where I know I’ve been misunderstood. There are also times when I realize that I’ve misunderstood what somebody was trying to tell me. We all experience this, don’t we? I was recently struck by a story in Joshua (22:10-34). There was a misunderstanding that could have ended in disaster… if one group of people hadn’t been able to explain themselves to another group.
When Israel was moving into the Promised Land, one group of people were given the land on the East side of the Jordan river. They built “an altar of imposing size.” One that looked identical to the altar God had them build for the Tabernacle. They shouldn’t have done this as it was “unauthorized.” God had been very clear with them when He gave them instructions about where and how He wanted the altar built.
When the rest of the Israelites (the other group) heard about the altar that had been built, they all gathered together to make war against them. The building of the altar was such a big deal that they were ready to actually fight a war. Thankfully, they didn’t go in with swords blazing! Instead, they first sent the priest and ten chiefs (heads of the other ten tribes of Israel) to confront those who had built the altar.
They said to the others, “What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away from following the Lord by building yourselves an altar in rebellion against the Lord? If you rebel against the Lord today, then tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.” The altar builders then explained their thinking.
They had been fearful. They were afraid that eventually the other tribes of Israelites might say to them, “You have no portion in the Lord!” Because of this, they decided to build the giant altar as a copy of the one their fathers had made for the Lord’s Tabernacle. They never meant to make sacrifices or offerings on it. They concluded, “Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away this day from following the Lord by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle!” Then the people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them.
How terrible it would have been if a family war had broken out over a misunderstanding like this. Think about it for a minute. I wonder how many of our friendships and relationships have been hurt or broken because of a misunderstanding? I wonder how many of those strained relationships can be restored by a simple conversation?
Thinking,
Billy
Posted in A Word from the Pastor