Joshua 22:21-25: a reflection

21Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel, 22“The Mighty One, God, the LORD, the Mighty One, God, the LORD, he knows; and Israel shall know: if it was in rebellion, or if in trespass against the LORD (don’t save us today), 23that we have built us an altar to turn away from following the LORD; or if to offer burnt offering or meal offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings, let the LORD himself require it. 24“If we have not out of concern done this, and for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your children might speak to our children, saying, “What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? 25For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no portion in the LORD.”’ So your children might make our children cease from fearing the LORD.

The eastern tribes had built a large altar by the Jordan, and the rest of Israel, seeing it, assumed the worst, that these tribes were turning away from God, setting up rival worship, committing apostasy, and prepared to go to war over it. But before the swords were drawn, there was an explanation. The eastern tribes protest that they had no such intent: the altar was not for sacrifice at all, but a witness, a memorial, so that in generations to come no one could say their children had no share in the LORD. It was built out of devotion, not rebellion.

Notice how close they came to disaster over a misunderstanding. The action looked like apostasy; the intent was the opposite. And what nearly caused a war was averted only because, at some point, someone asked, and someone explained, and the truth came out. Had they acted on their assumption without inquiring, they would have gone to war against their own brothers over a devout act they had entirely misread.

There is a caution here we all need. We are quick to assume the worst about others' actions, to read the darkest motive into what we see, to condemn before we understand. The eastern tribes' altar looked damning and was actually devout. Before you conclude the worst about what someone has done, before you condemn or break fellowship, do what nearly did not happen here: ask, clarify, give them the chance to explain. Much conflict comes from misreading others' motives. Seek to understand before you judge.

Lord, Israel nearly went to war over a devout act they had misread as rebellion. Keep me from assuming the worst about others' actions and condemning before I understand. Where I am tempted to read the darkest motive into what someone has done, help me ask and clarify first, giving them the chance to explain. Guard me from the conflicts that come from misjudging others.