One More Thing Before I Go Series

JOSHUA

One More Thing Before I Go

Joshua 23:1-2a

October 18, 2025

The Reubenites and Gadites had very large flocks and herds. After the lands of kings Sihon and Og had been conquered, these tribes, along with ½ the tribe of Manasseh, saw that the land on the east side of the Jordan was great for grazing livestock, so, they went to Moses and requested the land be given to them as their inheritance. “Do not make us cross the Jordan," they said.

In return, they promised to join the rest of Israel in the conquest of Canaan: “…. We will not return home until they have received their inheritance.”

So, when Israel finally crossed the Jordan river, the fighting men of Reuben, Gad and ½ Manasseh joined them. For 7 years they fought alongside their brothers. Now that the conquest was over, these men wanted to go home:

Joshua called them to him and congratulated them on a job well done. “You have done everything you were told to do. You did not desert your brothers, but have carried out the mission Yahweh gave you. Now it is time for you to return home. Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you: to love Yahweh, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."

Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way.

When theses “east-siders” reached Geliloth, located near the Jordan river (but still on Israel’s side), they built an imposing altar.

Having done so, they crossed the Jordan and went home.

Initially, the story does not tell us why the “east-siders” built the altar just that they did. Was it to be used for sacrifices or simply as a memorial – like the memorial built after Israel crossed the Jordan into Canaan? No one knew…

Joshua 22:11-34 - When the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.

In Deuteronomy 12, Moses had instructed the people to build an altar only in the place God would choose. The construction of an altar at any other location – even if done so in God’s name – should be seen as high treason.

However, it is important to note that Yahweh did not tell the “west-siders” to go to war against the “east-siders.” They made that decision all on their own. They jumped to conclusions all on their own. They assumed the worst all on their own….

Luckily, cooler heads prevailed and Phinehas, the priest (son of Eleazar) along with ten representatives from the tribes were sent to Gilead to confront the men of Reuben, Gad and ½ Manasseh:

This is what the community of Yahweh says, “How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? “How could you turn away from him and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him?”

Without asking for an explanation, the delegation assumed that the altar had been built for sacrifices and accused the “east-siders” of rebellion. Based on their assumptions, they reminded the “east-siders” of Israel’s rebellion at Baal Peor and Achan’s sin at Jericho, both of which had brought God’s wrath against the whole community.

For the “west-siders” the underpinning emotion was fear. The rationale for their fear was based on the fact that they believed that God had not fully forgiven the sins of Baal Peor and Achan. They felt that God still held these rebellions against them and that belief was fueling talk of war.

Is that true? Does God only sort of forgive? Does he extend forgiveness through gritted teeth, prepared at a moment’s notice to remind us of our past failings?

NO!!! That might be how humans treat each other and it is certainly something Satan does, but that is not how God operates:

• Psalm 103:11-12 - For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

• Isaiah 43:25 - I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

• Isaiah 44:22 - I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.

• Isaiah 55:7 - Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.