Resolving Conflict Series

This last week I came across an old joke about a letter to a neighbor. It reads: Dear Frank. We've been neighbors for six tumultuous years. When you borrowed my tiller, you returned it in pieces. When I was sick, you blasted rap music. And when your dog went to the bathroom all over my lawn, you laughed. I could go on, but I'm certainly not one to hold grudges. So I am writing this letter to tell you that your house is on fire. Cordially, Bob (Van Morris, Mt. Washington, Kentucky; www.PreachingToday. com)

I’m sure that helped – NOT!

Conflict is inevitable whether its between neighbors, friends, spouses, family members, co-workers, or church members. So how do you go about resolving conflict in ways that are helpful? How do you bring peace to a situation where tension has arisen for whatever reason?

Well, if you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Joshua 22, Joshua 22, where we see how the nation of Israel avoided fighting each other after they fought together and defeated all their enemies.

Joshua 22:1-4 At that time Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the LORD your God. And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. (ESV)

Joshua commends the soldiers of 2½ tribes, who kept their commitment to fight with their brothers until they had conquered and possessed the Promised Land. Moses had given the 2½ tribes property on the east side of the Jordan River, at their request, but commanded that their soldiers cross the Jordan River to help their brothers conquer the rest of the Promised Land.

It took them seven (7) years to do it, but those soldiers were faithful. They didn’t give up until the job was done. So Joshua commends them and gives them permission to return home to their families on the other side of the Jordan River. Joshua has only one request.

Joshua 22:5-6 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.” So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents. (ESV)

Joshua encourages the soldiers to remain faithful to God.

Joshua 22:7-9 Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua had given a possession beside their brothers in the land west of the Jordan. And when Joshua sent them away to their homes and blessed them, he said to them, “Go back to your tents with much wealth and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.” So the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned home, parting from the people of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, their own land of which they had possessed themselves by command of the LORD through Moses. (ESV)

The soldiers return home with much wealth and their nation’s gratitude. It’s a wonderful time for the nation of Israel. After seven years of fighting their enemies together, they are victorious! There is peace and prosperity, and all is well, but all that’s about to change very quickly.

Joshua 22:10-12 And when they came to the region of the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of imposing size. And the people of Israel heard it said, “Behold, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built the altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel.” And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them. (ESV)