The Israelites, in conquest of Canaan, were united in purging the land. They had a purpose that brought them together. However, when they started settling down, then disagreements began erupting. When people are bound together with a common goal in mind and fighting for the same thing, they are able get along with one another and work together; however, when intentions are unclear and people are lacking direction, they will often begin fighting each other. Within the church, this undesirable behavior results in what is known as church conflict.
When division occurs within the body of Christ, we often try to ignore it in the name of love or tolerance; however, issues cannot be resolved without civil and Christ-like confrontation. Problems must be addressed before they can ever be settled and there be peace among brethren. In the book Practical Wisdom for Pastors, author Curtis Thomas tells us,
Satan is happy when problems occur in the body of Christ. He loves divisions, dissensions, uproars, individual against individual, falsehood against truth, lies, distortions, and other things that upset the tranquility and mission of the church.
One of his insidious ways of fostering these problems is to cause the leadership to assume that we just need to give the matter a bit of time to see if it won’t work itself out. Seldom is that the case! Some very minor issues, are best left alone, but when they escalate to major issues, time will work against us rather than for us. We must not fall into Satan’s trap.(1)
This morning we will see how problems arise as people begin acting apart from a consensus. We will also discover that when individuals have enough courage to come together and communicate, and lay all their intentions on the table, that people can once again reach a consensus, thereby promoting the peace and presence of God.
Acting Apart from a Consensus (vv. 10-12)
10 And when they came to the region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan - a great, impressive altar.
11 Now the children of Israel heard someone say, “Behold, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan - on the children of Israel’s side.” 12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go to war against them.
Here we read about Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. Reuben and Gad were the two tribes that decided to settle down on the east side of the Jordan River, choosing to forfeit the real prize for second best (cf. Numbers 32:1-23). The tribe of Manasseh was descended from Joseph, and was very large. The people needed room to expand, and therefore, when settling the land after the conquest, “half of this tribe . . . had their territory assigned to them by Moses on the east of the Jordan.”(2)
Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh were separated from the other ten tribes by the Jordan, and therefore had little contact with them. You can easily see how this geographical barrier could have resulted in broken communication, and even exclusion from the other tribes.
Well, there was indeed a communication breakdown! Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh committed two transgressions against their brethren: 1.) They failed to share their plans, and 2.) they neglected to ask for permission, or to sit down and have an open dialogue or discussion. Maybe they felt it better to ask for forgiveness, rather than ask for permission, as we’ve heard it said. Because they failed to seek a consensus, a dispute arose between them and the other ten tribes.
The construction of another altar was so significant that it should have been decided upon by everyone. What we need to understand is that it’s always important to obtain a consensus when making major decisions or significant changes. When we make an unsanctioned decision it can lead to conflict and war! We read that “the children of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go to war against” Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh (v. 12).
A book I read on leadership states, “In committees or groups working on shared goals, consensus is often used to resolve conflicts that may occur within the group . . . Building consensus ensures that everyone within the group is heard, but that the group will ultimately end up with one agreed-upon course of action.”(3)
If God has called you on mission, then you are a spiritual leader; and spiritual leaders are responsible for the well-being of numerous souls. You must be careful not to make decisions that will affect the entire group without first consulting them. If people are uncertain of your intentions, you will lose their trust; and at this point they will go into survival mode, and begin fighting to do what they think is best. So, it is extremely important to inform everybody of the group’s direction, and to make sure that everyone is on board with the plan.
Come Together and Communicate (vv. 13-16)
13 Then the children of Israel sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, 14 and with him ten rulers, one ruler each from the chief house of every tribe of Israel; and each one was the head of the house of his father among the divisions of Israel.
15 Then they came to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying, 16 “Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD: ‘What treachery is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that you have built for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel this day against the LORD?’”
The ten tribes of Canaan had assembled for war in Shiloh, ready to attack Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh; however, they wanted to be clear about the facts before proceeding with the horrible annihilation of their brethren. So, they sent a delegation past the front lines onto the battlefield; as they sought to open up communication, in order to have a frank discussion with Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh.
Another leadership book I read offers this advice: “Resolving conflicts within groups depends on open communication among all parties, diffusion of negative feelings and perceptions, focusing on the issues, fair procedures, and a structured approach to process.”(4)
In trying to dispel any possible misunderstanding with Rueben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, and flesh out the truth, the ten tribes presented questions in order to clarify their stance, asking, “What treachery is this that you have committed?” (v. 16); and to paraphrase the next question: “Why have you turned away from the Lord and built an altar?”
Now, notice that they not only met with each other face to face and began communicating, they brought along someone to facilitate the discussion. We read about ten rulers selected from each of the tribes, however, only one is mentioned by name, and that was Phinehas. He was the son of Eleazar the priest (v. 13), which would have made him a Levite; and perhaps his priestly heritage afforded him prestige as a spiritual authority. He was also the commander of the tribes, having previously led them in battle against the Midianites (Numbers 31:6-8).
Phinehas was respected and revered; therefore, people would have listened to him. He was brought along as a negotiator, or a mediator. Listen as I share from a book that addresses the subject of conflict resolution and bringing in some outside help: “To bring in an outside mediator is not a sign of failure; rather it signifies a realistic acceptance that when trust breaks down, and when emotional reactions are high, a third party, who is perceived to be neutral by both parties, may be the only way forward to enable two-way communication.”(5)
With Phinehas as negotiator, the tribes met together in order to work out their differences. The ten tribes believed that there could only be one true altar in the land, and one true God who rested on that altar. They felt that in building another, Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh would have been worshipping some strange god, thereby committing idolatry.
The ten tribes believed that they were justified in this confrontation and were pure in heart, and thus they were firm in their stance. They thought they were doing God’s will by preparing for battle against Rueben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. However, they cared enough for their brethren that they expressed their heartfelt concern and deep conviction; and down in verse nineteen they implored them as follows:
If the land of your possession is unclean, then cross over to the land of the possession of the LORD, where the LORD'S tabernacle stands, and take possession among us; but do not rebel against the LORD, nor rebel against us, by building yourselves an altar besides the altar of the LORD our God (Joshua 22:19).
They cared so much about the proper worship of the Lord that they were willing to give up some of their own inheritance and invite Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh to live with them in Canaan. They wanted only what was right, and they were able to express their concern by opening up the lines of communication. You see, when people make an effort to communicate they will often realize that the other party is not out to get them, but is only seeking what they believe is best.
Now, we’re going to skip around a little, in order to save some time. So let’s jump down and pick up with verse 21.
Laying Intentions Out on the Table (vv. 21, 24-26, 28-29)
21 Then the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh answered and said to the heads of the divisions of Israel . . . 24 “But in fact we have done it for fear, for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your descendants may speak to our descendants, saying, “What have you to do with the LORD God of Israel? 25 For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between you and us, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no part in the LORD.” So your descendants would make our descendants cease fearing the LORD.
26 Therefore we said, “Let us now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice” . . . 28 Therefore we said that it will be, when they say this to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say, “Here is the replica of the altar of the LORD which our fathers made, though not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between you and us.” 29 Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn from following the LORD this day, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for grain offerings, or for sacrifices, besides the altar of the LORD our God which is before His tabernacle’.”
Conflict is all too often the result of assumption. Without all the facts, the wheels of the mind begin spinning, people become paranoid and afraid, and they react apart from reason. Conflict can only be resolved after “airing out the laundry” and exposing people’s true intentions. Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, once confronted by the ten tribes, were able to place their intentions on the table and express their point of view.
Gary Harper, in his book The Joy of Conflict Resolution, says, “I allow and encourage the other person to tell their side of the story, explain their concerns, and clarify their intentions. Once we are able to listen to someone else’s story without feeling the need to make it conform to our own view, we open the doors to invaluable understanding.”(6)
Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh explained that they had only constructed a replica, and not a functioning altar (v. 28). They knew better than to offer illegal and profane sacrifices apart from a priest. They were probably familiar with how Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aaron, had offered unsanctioned fire on the altar, and were consumed by the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2). They had no intentions of being that foolish!
The motivation for building the altar, they explained, was fear (v. 24) – fear that the other ten tribes would one day disown them, because they lived on the opposite side of the Jordan River, outside the border of Canaan; and they were afraid that if they should ever be disowned, that they would be cut off from the Lord (vv. 24-25). Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, like the ten tribes, only had intentions of doing what was right and serving the Lord.
Experiencing Peace and God’s Presence (vv. 30-31)
30 Now when Phinehas the priest and the rulers of the congregation, the heads of the divisions of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them.
31 Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the children of Manasseh, “This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this treachery against the LORD. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.”
Civil war almost broke out among the Israelites because of a simple misunderstanding. Both sides were aiming for the same goal, which was pure devotion unto God; however, the roads they took to get there were quite different. Once they stated their intentions, they were able to come to a resolution, for we read that the answer provided by Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh pleased Phinehas and the rulers (v. 30).
Dwight L. Moody once stated, “I have never yet known the Spirit of God to work where the Lord’s people were divided.”(7) Notice what Phinehas said: “This day we perceive that the LORD is among us” (v. 31). The Lord’s presence was among His people, because they walked in His wisdom, and they took the time and effort to reconcile their differences. However, if they had gone to war with one another, they likely would have incurred God’s wrath and been destroyed (v. 31).
Allow me to share a quote: “The destruction of unity is the destruction of something that God has made holy. Any activity contributing to disunity also contributes to the veiling of God’s glory.”(8) If you, for some reason, want to hide the glory of God, and risk His presence departing from a congregation, then allow conflict to continue. If, however, you desire to abide in His presence, then you must always seek to make peace and work toward the resolution of conflict among brothers and sisters in Christ.
Time of Reflection
If you are working with others towards the goal of bringing glory to Christ, and leading the lost to salvation, keep in mind that differences of opinion and process will arise. When this happens, do not act irrationally and swiftly; but rather, resolve to take the time to understand where people are coming from, and guide others to do the same. Be sure to lead people to come together and communicate, and to lay their intentions out on the table, with the purpose of reaching common ground. If you will take this approach in all that you do, you will avert conflict, glorify the Lord, and continually usher in His presence among His people.
So I want ask you: “Have you ever considered that when we are living in sin that we are in conflict with God?” Well, we are! And it leads to eternal separation from Him (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23, 6:23). Just as Phinehas was descended from the priesthood, and became a negotiator for the Israelites; Hebrews 5:9-10 tells us that Jesus “became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek,” and Hebrews 9:15 says that “for this reason He is the Mediator . . . that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15).
We read in 1 Timothy 2:3-6, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all.” God desires all of us to be saved; to be forgiven of our sins and receive eternal life. So, He sent Jesus to be our negotiator between us and God. Jesus became our mediator in the most extreme sense of the word, for He stepped in and took our place, taking the penalty for our sin on Himself and dying on our behalf. The way that we become reconciled unto God is by confessing our faith that Jesus truly did die for our sins.
NOTES
(1) Curtis C. Thomas, Practical Wisdom for Pastors (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001), p. 131.
(2) M. G. Easton, “Manasseh,” Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Power Bible CD.
(3) Bessie L. Marquis and Carol J. Huston, Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing (Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 2009), p. 505.
(4) Marcia Stanhope and Jeanette Lancaster, Community and Public Health Nursing (St. Louis, MO: Mosby, 2004), p. 550.
(5) Fraser N. Watts, Rebecca Nye and Sara B. Savage, Psychology for Christian Ministry (New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor and Francis, 2002), p. 237.
(6) Gary Harper, The Joy of Conflict Resolution (Gabriola Island, BC, Canada: New Society Publihsers, 2004), p. 109.
(7) Thomas, Practical Wisdom for Pastors, p. 140.
(8) Duane Elmer, Cross-cultural Conflict (Downers Grove, Il: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 30.
