Joshua 22
Two and half tribes back across the Jordan verse 1- 6
Then Joshua called 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 commanded you
you have not left your brethren these many days unto this day
BUT have kept the charge of the
commandment of the LORD your God
Now the LORD your God has given rest unto your brethren
as HE promised them – THEREFORE now return you
and get you to your tents
and to the land of your possession
which Moses the servant of the LORD
gave you on the other side Jordan
BUT take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law
which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you
to love the LORD your God – and to walk in all HIS ways
to keep HIS commandments – to cleave unto HIM
to serve HIM with all your heart – all your soul
So Joshua blessed them – and sent them away – and they went to their tents
Half tribe of Manasseh sent back verse 7- 8
Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given
possession in Bashan – BUT unto the other half thereof
gave Joshua among their brethren
on this side Jordan westward
And when Joshua sent them away also to their tents
then he blessed them – and he spoke unto them
saying
Return with much riches to your tents – with very much cattle
with silver – gold – brass – iron – with very much raiment
divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren
Two and half tribes head back home verse 9
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the
half tribe of Manasseh returned – and departed from the
children of Israel out of Shiloh
which is in the land of Canaan
to go to the country of Gilead
to the land of their possession
whereof they were possessed
according to the word of the LORD
by the hand of Moses
Two and half tribes build an altar near Jordan verse 10
And when they came to the borders of Jordan
that are in the land of Canaan – the children of Reuben
the children of Gad – and the half tribe of Manasseh
built there an altar by Jordan
a GREAT altar to see to
Phinehas send to talk concerning altar verse 11- 14
And the children of Israel heard say
BEHOLD – the children of Reuben – the children of Gad
the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar
over against the land of Canaan
in the borders of Jordan
at the passage of the children of Israel
And when the children of Israel heard of it
the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered
themselves together at Shiloh – to go up to WAR against them
And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben
and to children of Gad – to the half tribe of Manasseh
into the land of Gilead – Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest
and with him ten princes – of each chief house a prince
throughout all the tribes of Israel
And each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the
thousands of Israel
Phinehas accused tribes of rebellion verse 15- 18
And they came to the children of Reuben – Gad – half tribe of Manasseh
to the land of Gilead – and they speak with them
saying
Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD
What trespass 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 you an altar
that you might REBEL this day against the LORD?
Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us
from which we are not cleansed until this day
although there was a plague in the
congregation of the LORD
BUT that you must turn away this
day from following the LORD?
And it will be seeing you REBEL today against the LORD
that tomorrow HE will be wroth with the whole
congregation of Israel
Phinehas offered them to join them verse 19- 20
Notwithstanding – if the land of your possession be unclean
then pass you over to the land of the possession of the LORD
wherein the LORD’S tabernacle dwells
and take possession among us
BUT REBEL not against the LORD – nor REBEL against us
in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD your God
DID not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing
and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel?
and that man perished not alone in his iniquity
Two and half tribes answer the charge verse 21- 29
Then the children of Reuben – Gad – half tribe of Manasseh answered
and said to the heads of the thousands of Israel
The LORD God of gods – The LORD God of gods
HE knows – and Israel HE shall know
IF it be in REBELLION – or IF in transgression against the LORD
(save us not this day)
That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD
or IF to offer thereon burnt offering – or meat offering
or IF to offer peace offerings thereon
LET the LORD HIMSELF require it
IF we have not rather done it for fear of this thing
saying
In time to come your children might speak unto our children
saying
What have you to do with the LORD God of Israel?
FOR the LORD has made Jordan a border between us and you
you children of Reuben and children of Gad
you have no part in the LORD
so shall your children make our children
CEASE from fearing the LORD
THEREFORE we said
Let us now prepare to build an altar – not for burnt offering
nor for sacrifice – BUT that it may be a witness between us
and you – and our generation after us
that we might do the service of the LORD before
HIM with our burnt offerings
with our sacrifices
with our peace offerings
that your children may not say to our children
in time to come
You have no part in the LORD
THEREFORE said we – that it shall be when they should so say to us or to our
generations in time to come – that we may say again
BEHOLD the pattern of the altar of the LORD
which our fathers made – not for burnt offerings – nor for sacrifices
BUT it is a WITNESS between us and you
God forbid that we should REBEL against the LORD
and turn this day from following the LORD
to build an altar for burnt offerings – meat offering
or for sacrifices beside the altar of the
LORD our God that is before
HIS tabernacle
Answer satisfied Phinehas and verse 30- 31
And when Phinehas the priest – and the princes of the congregation
and the heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him
heard the words that the children of Reuben – Gad
half tribe of Manasseh spoke – IT PLEASED THEM
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben
children of Gad- half tribe of Manasseh
This day we perceive that the LORD is among us
BECAUSE you have not committed this trespass against the LORD
now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the
hand of the LORD
All tribes praised the LORD verse 32- 33
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the princes
returned from the children of Reuben – Gad – out of the land of Gilead
unto the land of Canaan – to the children of Israel
and brought them word again
And the thing PLEASED the children of Israel
and the children of Israel blessed God
and did not intend to go up against them in battle
to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben
and Gad dwelt
Altar named “witness” verse 34
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed
for it shall be a WITNESS between us that the LORD is God
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all HIS ways, and to keep HIS commandments, and to cleave to HIM, and to serve HIM with all your heart and with all your soul. (3966 “diligent” [ma‘od] means muchness, force, strength, power, exceedingly, in the highest degree, abundance, to a great degree, or with muchness)
DEVOTION: One of the keys to knowing what to do in any situation is to know the Word of God. The Bible gives us instructions in all areas of life. There is not an important area of life that is not covered in the Word of God.
The problem could be that we have not studied those parts of the Bible that answer our current question. So we need to ask for help from those who have studied the Bible for many years.
Joshua was giving them final instructions to follow when they returned home across the Jordan River. Once they were across it would sometimes be hard for them to return for instructions. There were priests on that side of the Jordan to instruct but if there was not a regular gathering at the feast times it could cause them to lose their faith.
He instructed them to love the LORD. He instructed them to walk in the ways of the LORD. He instructed them to obey the commands of the LORD. Once of the key instructions was for them to hold firm their beliefs in front of the families. They were also to serve the LORD with all their heart and soul which meant that it was not to be just an external belief but an internal belief that motivated them to serve the LORD.
These instructions are good for us and our family. We need to remind ourselves that the LORD is the one who blesses us on a daily basis. We should thank HIM on a daily basis. We need to be careful!!!
CHALLENGE: It takes daily work to keep ourselves faithful to our service to the LORD. We are prone to wander.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 16 Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass 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 you an altar, that you might rebel this day against the LORD? (4775 “rebel” [marad] means to take part in a rebellion, renounce a former allegiance, to move sedition, against God, or to disobey or opposes or resist one in authority)
DEVOTION: Have you ever been questioned regarding your motives for doing something you thought was good to do? Have you ever been misunderstood?
Here we have a case of tribes of Israel misunderstanding the motives of the two and a half tribes that were going to live on the other side of the Jordan.
These two and a half tribes were returning home after defeating the enemies of Israel in the Promised Land. The war was over and Joshua told the tribes that had their inheritance on the other side of the Jordan that they could return to their land because the fighting was done for them.
So on their return to the other side of the Jordan they had built an altar to the LORD. They wanted to make sure that the other tribes on the oppose side of the Jordan remembered that they were still part of the twelve tribes of Israel.
It was a memorial to the unity of the twelve tribes in their eyes but the other tribes thought they were trying to set up a new religion.
So there was a major misunderstanding before they had given the two and a half tribes time to explain what they were doing and why they were doing it. The jumped to the wrong conclusions and wanted to get the army ready to fight with these tribes before letting them explain what they were doing.
This happens even today. Sometimes we jump to conclusions without having all the facts and don’t take the time to ask the right questions regarding what was happening in the lives of others.
We need to give people time to explain what they are doing and why they are doing it. Once we hear the reasons they did something, then and only then can we make a good judgment regarding their actions.
CHALLENGE: Even today we have problems among Christians because people are not willing to find out the facts before they make a judgment. Get the fact first.
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: 25 For the LORD has made Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad; you have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. (7673 “cease” [shabath] means stop, to be absent, to come to an end, desist, put to an end, to exterminate, destroy, to cause to desist from, or disappear)
DEVOTION: It is hard to imagine one generation excluding someone from their generation from worshiping the LORD. Yet this could happen in Israel. Remember that they had three feasts all of the men of Israel were to attend each year. These were times when family members would come and worship together at Shiloh for the next three hundred years and then at Jerusalem.
If attending this feasts stopped for just a short time there would be no habit for the next generation to follow. If they didn’t have a habit to follow that was true to the Word of God, then they could start their own tradition that didn’t honor the LORD.
We are good at starting our own religion. There are many denominations today. There are many different types of churches but not all of them truly worship the God of the Bible.
Some don’t even open a Bible during their times of worship. Some have book reports rather than sermons based on the Word of God. Some come to church just to be entertained. Some come to church to be told that everything they are doing is good in the eyes of man.
Worship God in spirit and in truth. Make sure you are attending a place that preaches the TRUTH from the Word of God on a weekly basis. Don’t fall into the trap of following a false teacher that may be popular on television or radio. Follow the LORD.
Parents it is your responsibility to attend church with your children. You are not fulfilling your responsibility by just dropping them off at church while you go out for breakfast or something else.
Families need to worship together for the children to learn the truth concerning the Word of God. If children see their parents uninterested in church the next generation will be lost.
CHALLENGE: We should never lose the fear of the LORD in our lives. We need to make sure that we have a reverent fear of the LORD. This will keep us obedient.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 30 And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben, Manasseh spoke, it pleased them. (2895 “pleased” [towb] means be beneficial, be pleasant, be favorable, be delightful, to be glad, be joyful, or to be better)
DEVOTION: Here was a group of at least eleven men who were prepared to go to war with the two and a half tribes over what they thought was rebellion.
Phinehas heard the explanation of why they built the altar and was satisfied. He was glad that they could explain their reasoning. They thought that if they crossed the Jordan without building an altar of witness the other tribes in the future would exclude them from their worship times.
These tribes wanted to be able to keep coming over the Jordan to the Tabernacle to worship the LORD for many generations. They wanted their children to attend the feasts that the LORD required of them. They wanted their children to be part of the Jewish religion. They didn’t want their children to think they weren’t welcome and start their own religion.
These soldiers knew that the LORD was the one who gave them the land and the victories they experienced during their war with the Amorites. They knew that there would be future wars that they wanted their children to be part of as true Israelites.
So their answers pleased the other ten tribes. Our answers should do the same when we are questions regarding our motives for our actions. When we are confronted how will we answer people who want to know what we believe? Have we thought about our answers to those who question why we do some things and not others?
CHALLENGE: Have you ever done something that people wonder about your motive for doing it? Make sure you are doing the right things for the right reason.
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: 34 And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God. (5707 “witness” [‘ed] means a recorder, testimony, or evidence.)
DEVOTION: Here we find a group of people jumping to a conclusion before they knew all the facts. This happened then and it happens now. Too often people come to conclusions without consulting the people involved. Too often people are judged before all the facts are in. Those who are followers of Christ should do as these individuals did. There should be a fact finding, trip to see what is true and what is false.
The two and a half tribes were told by Joshua to return to their land on the east side of the Jordan. They began their trip home and stopped to build an altar. The children of Israel thought they were starting another religion. They were ready to fight with their brothers over this altar. Note that they didn’t consult the LORD first before preparing for battle with their brothers.
However, they sent representatives to the two and a half tribes to find out what was going on. Praise the LORD for the gift of wisdom. After they questioned the two and a half tribes, they found out that they were not rebelling but setting up a testimony.
They wanted their children to know that they were part of the children of Israel. They wanted their children to know that they could worship at the tabernacle. This altar was evidence that they were part of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The altar was a testimony for future generations that the LORD was their God. HE was the God of gods. HE is SOVEREIGN over all the earth. All other gods are FALSE. Today we are to worship the LORD because of the ministry of HIS SON, Jesus Christ and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit WHO indwelt us once we become a follower of Jesus Christ. There is only one way to heaven and that is through the blood of Jesus Christ. The CROSS is our memorial and it is empty!!!
Do we ever jump to conclusions regarding what someone else has done? Do we stop to get the facts or just go to war? We can learn from the children of Israel on this occasion that they were using the wisdom the LORD had given them to ask the right questions. Let us use this same wisdom today in our dealing with other believers in the church of Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: We all have to go back to the cross for forgiveness of sin. We all have to give grace to those around us. We must ask the right questions of those we allow to be in our midst. Ask the right questions!!!
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Obeyed my voice verse 2
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Altar verse 10-
Phinehas the sone of Eleazar the priest verse 13, 30- 32
Perceive that the LORD is among us
LORD’s tabernacle verse 19, 29
Burnt offering verse 23, 27- 29
Meat offering verse 23, 29
Peace offering verse 23, 27
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Commandment verse 3, 5
Law verse 5
Achan verse 20
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant- keeping, Personal) verse 2- 5, 9, 16- 19, 22- 25, 27- 29, 31, 34
Servant of the LORD verse 2, 4, 5
LORD commanded verse 2
Obey MY voice
God – Elohim (Creator) verse 3- 5, 22, 29, 33, 34
LORD your God verse 3- 5
Word of the LORD verse 9
Whole congregation of the LORD verse 16, 17
God of Israel verse 16
LORD’S tabernacle verse 19
LORD our God verse 19, 29
LORD God of gods verse 22
HE knows motives verse 22
LORD God of Israel verse 24
Altar of the LORD verse 28
God forbid verse 29
Hand of the LORD verse 31
LORD is God verse 34
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Enemies verse 8
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Trespass verse 16, 20, 31
Turn away from the LORD verse 16, 18, 23, 29
Rebel verse 16, 18, 19, 22, 29
Iniquity verse 17, 20
Not cleansed verse 17
Unclean verse 19
Trespass verse 20, 31
Accursed thing verse 20
Transgression verse 22
Cause children to not fear the LORD verse 25
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Obeyed verse 2
Servant verse 2, 5
Brethren verse 3, 4, 8
Kept the charge verse 3
Not left your brethren
Rest verse 4
Promise verse 4
Possessions verse 4, 7, 9, 19
Take diligent verse 5
Love the LORD your God verse 5
Walk in HIS ways verse 5
Keep HIS commandments verse 5
Cleave verse 5
Serve verse 5, 27
Blessed verse 6, 7, 33
Riches verse 8
Godly fear verse 24, 25
Witness verse 27, 28, 34
Pleased verse 30, 33
LORD is among us verse 31
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Joshua verse 1- 34
Reubenites and Gadites
Half tribe of Manasseh verse 1- 34
Built an great altar
Not for burnt offerings
Not for sacrifice
Witness
Altar called Ed (witness)
Moses -servant of the LORD verse 2 , 4, 5, 9
Children of Israel verse 9 , 11- 14, 33
Pleased with Phinehas report
Shiloh verse 9, 19
Gilead verse 9
Built an altar verse 10
Shiloh verse 12
War against two and a half tribes verse 12
Ten princes verse 14, 30
Whole congregation of of the LORD verse 16- 18, 20
Plague of Peor verse 17
Altar of the LORD our God verse 19, 29
Sin of Achan verse 20
Let the LORD HIMSELF require it verse 23
Word brought back to children of Israel
by Phinehas verse 32
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
31 The faithfulness and unity of God’s people were taken as evidence of God’s presence and blessing. (Madvig, D. H. (1992). Joshua. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 360). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House)
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5. the reconciliation of the tribes (22:30–34)
22:30–34. There was a happy ending to this grave crisis. The explanation of the representatives of the Eastern tribes was fully accepted by Phinehas and his delegation as well as by the other tribes when report was made to them. In fact the nine and one-half tribes on the west of the Jordan were glad … and praised God. In concluding the whole matter Phinehas expressed deep gratitude that no sin had been committed and that the wrath of God was not incurred.
In a book describing the occupation and distribution of the Promised Land why should this single incident be treated in such detail? Simply because it illustrates certain principles that were vital to Israel living together in the land harmoniously and under God’s full blessing. The same principles apply to those in God’s family today:
1. It is commendable for believers to be zealous for the purity of the faith. Compromise of truth is always costly.
2. It is wrong to judge people’s motives on the basis of circumstantial evidence. It is important to get all the facts, remembering that there are always two sides to every dispute.
3. Frank and open discussion will often clear the air and lead to reconciliation. But such a confrontation should be approached in a spirit of gentleness, not arrogance (Gal. 6:1).
4. A person who is wrongly accused does well to remember the wise counsel of Solomon, “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1). (Campbell, D. K. (1985). Joshua. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 367). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Phinehas was pleased, the delegation was pleased, and the Children of Israel across the Jordan were pleased; but was the Lord pleased? The delegation rejoiced that the purpose of the altar was for witness and not sacrifice, and this seemed to settle the matter. They rejoiced that God wouldn’t send judgment to the land (v. 31) and that there would be no civil war in Israel (v. 33). But the nation was divided, in spite of the “altar of witness.” Like Abraham and Lot (Gen. 13), part of the nation had a spiritual outlook while the other part was concerned with material things.
“Peace at any price” isn’t God’s will for His people. This decision in Gilead was made on the basis of human wisdom and not God’s truth. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable” (James 3:17, italics mine). The peace that God’s people achieve at the price of purity and truth is only a dangerous truce that eventually explodes into painful division. There is always a place in human relations for loving conciliation, but never for cowardly compromise. “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality” (1 Tim. 5:21, NKJV).
The Transjordanic tribes named their altar “A witness between us that the Lord is God” (NIV). (The Hebrew word edh means “witness.”) But if the Lord is God, why didn’t they obey Him and live in the land He had appointed for them? The stones may have been a witness, but the people certainly were not. Surrounded by heathen nations and separated from their brothers and sisters across the river, these tribes quickly fell into idolatry and were eventually taken by Assyria (1 Chron. 5:25–26).
On September 30, 1938, British Prime Minister Sir Neville Chamberlain, just back from Germany, told a gathering at 10 Downing Street: “My good friends, this is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And now I recommend you to go home and sleep quietly in your beds.”
Less than a year later, England was at war with Germany; and World War II had burst upon the world.
Church history is replete with agreements and accords that magnified unity over purity and truth, and therefore never lasted. Whether in our personal relationships in our homes and churches, or in our nation, the only peace that lasts is peace that is based on truth and purity. It’s a peace that demands sacrifice and courage, and a willingness to stand up for God’s Word; but the results are worth it.
The well-known Bible commentator, Matthew Henry, said it best: “Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth.” (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Strong (pp. 143–144). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
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Ver. 31. And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, &c.] As the mouth of the deputation, and in their name: said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh; the representatives of them assembled together on this occasion: this day we perceive that the Lord is among us; his Shechinah, as the Targum; his powerful Presence in preserving their brethren from committing a trespass, as they feared; his gracious Presence smiling upon them; and as the God of peace and order, and not of confusion, uniting and cementing their hearts in love to one another: because ye have not committed this trespass against the Lord; which they were fearful and jealous of they had, but they found that the Lord had been good and gracious in preserving them from it: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord; into which they would have fallen, had that been the case, and would have felt the effects of the divine resentment, but now they were secure from them. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 269). London: Mathews and Leigh)
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The Lord is among us, by his gracious presence and preventing goodness, in keeping you from so great an offence, and all of us from those dismal calamities that would have followed upon it. Out of the hand of the Lord, i. e. from the wrath and dreadful judgments of God; by avoiding that sin which would have involved both you and us in a most bloody war, you have delivered us from the evils we feared. He that prevents an unexpected or approaching disease or mischief, doth as truly deliver a man from it, as he that cures or removes it after it hath been inflicted. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 1, p. 452). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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THE REALM OF EXPERIENCE, PART 1
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
But God be thanked, we can also answer the question with regard to the mechanism of this glorious promise in an experimental manner, from the realm of experience. That our text is true is the universal testimony of all the saints whose histories are recorded both in the Bible and in the subsequent history of the Christian church. The ways in which this promise works out are almost endless; but the principle that is common to them all is that there is but one ultimate good–the knowledge of God and the salvation of our souls. Holding that in mind, we see that trials and tribulations work out in the following ways:
They awaken us to the fact of our over-dependence on earthly and human things. Quite unconsciously, oftentimes we become affected by our surroundings, and our lives become less and less dependent upon God, and our interests become more and more worldly. The denial of earthly and human comforts and joys often awakens us to the realization of this in a way that nothing else can do.
Our trials also remind us of the fleeting nature of our life here on earth. How easy it is to “settle down” in life in this world and to live on the assumption that we are here forever. We all tend to do so to such an extent that we forget “the glory which shall be revealed” (verse 18), and that, as we have shown, should be the frequent theme of our meditation. Anything that disturbs this sloth and reminds us that we are but pilgrims here therefore stimulates us to “set your affection on things above” (Colossians 3:2).
A Thought to Ponder: There is but one ultimate good–the knowledge of God and the salvation of our souls. (From Why Does God Allow War? pp. 123-124. By Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.)
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The Ministry of the Saints
“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s.” (1 Corinthians 1:2)
This salutation to those “called saints” at Corinth (the words “to be” are not in the original) makes it clear that all who “in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” are the saints of God. The word “saint” means “one who is sanctified” or “set apart,” having been called to serve the Lord.
That service is varied, and many striking figures of speech are used in the Bible to describe it. In the first place, the saints are “witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8) and, therefore, “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). The words and deeds of believers are to serve as an actual Bible to those who may not read God’s Word. “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3).
Christ applied the figure of candlesticks to the churches addressed in Revelation, with Himself in the midst (Revelation 1:12-13). Similarly, we are enjoined to “shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life” (Philippians 2:15-16). This light is not merely the light of a godly life, but the light of God’s revealed truth, for we constitute “the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
In relation to Christ, we constitute “the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:27) and have been presented “as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). One day we shall reign with Him as “kings and priests unto God” (Revelation 1:6). (HMM The Institute for Creation Research)
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I’ll Protect You
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. JOSHUA 1:9
One day during Rebecca’s first year of junior high, she came home from school with an unusually unhappy look on her face. Some boy had been making ugly remarks about her figure (or more precisely, her lack of one).
“What’s this guy’s name?” I inquired. She told me what it was. “What’s his phone number?” I asked. “Sounds like we need to have a little man-to-man chat.”
When the boy’s father answered the phone, I told him I needed to talk to his son. I said I wasn’t going to be mean, but he had been making derogatory comments about my daughter and I wanted to tell him that such comments are inappropriate.
“Okay, here he is.” (I could just imagine the look on this young man’s face as the phone receiver came his direction.) “Hullo?” he said in that teenage monotone. “Hello, I’m Mr. Rainey. Rebecca’s dad. From school. She came home today telling me about some things you said about her body, and I just wanted you to know I don’t appreciate it. This is not the way to treat a young lady, and I’d like you to respect her dignity enough to stop teasing her about the way she looks. You understand?”
That was it. Didn’t take long. I remember it took some courage to make the call, but I just remember Rebecca standing there beaming. And though I’d like to think it made a statement to the young man on the other end of the line, I know for a fact it made a statement to my daughter.
She saw the way a man is supposed to protect a woman, the way a dad is supposed to protect his little girl. How will they know if they don’t see us doing it?
DISCUSS
Do you think I did the right thing? Name some issues where, as parents, you need to step in, protect and be strong for your children. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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Genesis 11
God responds to the construction of the Tower of Babel.
INSIGHT
To understand the Lord’s response to the people building the tower of Babel, consider the command God gave Noah and his descendants in Genesis 9:1: “So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.’ “
In apparent disobedience, the people stayed in one place and began to build a monument to themselves. In response, God confused their languages and scattered the people over the face of the earth.
God deals with disobedience in different ways. Sometimes He lets us go our own way and suffer the natural consequences of our sin. At other times the issue is a major part of His program, and it cannot be ignored.
Disobedience always has a price, and in the end God always has His way. Obedience, then, while not always easy, is always wise. God always acts for the ultimate benefit of His children. (Quiet Walk)
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God of the Invisible
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people.
Hebrews 6:10
Sometimes I feel as if I’m invisible. But I so want God to use me.”
Ann was tidying up the exercise room at the hotel I was visiting when we struck up a conversation. As we talked, I discovered she had an amazing story.
“I used to be a crack addict and prostitute living on the streets,” she said. “But I knew God wanted me to put down my pipe and walk with Him. One day years ago I knelt at Jesus’ feet, and He set me free.”
I thanked Ann for sharing what God had done for her and assured her she wasn’t invisible—He had used her in our conversation in a beautiful way to remind me of His power to transform lives.
God loves to use people others might overlook. The apostle Andrew isn’t as well known as his brother Peter, but the Bible recounts that “the first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon [Peter] and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’. . . . And he brought him to Jesus” (John 1:41-42).
Peter met Jesus through Andrew. When Andrew, one of John the Baptist’s disciples, learned about Jesus from John, he followed Jesus and believed—and immediately told his brother. Andrew’s quiet faithfulness had an impact that would shake the world.
God values faithful service over fame. He can use us powerfully wherever we are—even when no one is looking. (By James Banks (Daily Bread)
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THE HOLY SPIRIT’S DIVINE DEEDS
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Job 33:4
Certain things are done by the Spirit that we are told in the Scriptures can only be done by God. First of all, creation. In Genesis 1:2 we read, “The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” There it is at the very beginning. Job says it also: “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” This is the creative work of the Holy Spirit, again a proof of His deity. And we must remember also that His is the special operation that we describe as regeneration. John 3:7 establishes that once and forever: “Ye must be born again.” “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit…” (John 3:5). This is the action of the Spirit; He gives the rebirth. Original creation and the new creation are both the special work of the Spirit. “It is the spirit that quickened,” says our Lord again (John 6:63).
The work of inspiration is also the work of the Spirit. “No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation,” says Peter; “…holy men of God spoke as they were moved”—carried along, driven; it does not matter which translation you use—“by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21). All the Scriptures were written in that way: The Holy Spirit inspired and controlled the writers in an infallible manner. So we have our doctrine of the infallibility of the Scriptures, and it is proof positive to us that He is God. It is God alone who can give the truth and inspire men in their record of the truth.
The work of resurrection is also attributed to Him. Very often people are surprised by this. But it is to be found quite clearly in Romans 8:11: “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.” So we arrive at this—that the Holy Spirit is a person and a divine person.
A Thought to Ponder: The Holy Spirit is a person and a divine person.
(From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 16-17, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Guide and Keeper
“For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” (Psalm 31:3)
David wrote often about the trials of life, but he leaned on a wise and good Guide for deliverance. The next verses tell of the grave danger ahead and David’s resolve: “Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth” (vv. 4-5). “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners” addresses that in its fourth stanza.
Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night o’ertakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.
There was a time in the gospels when the disciples were overwhelmed by a tempest, but Jesus Christ, their Guide and Keeper, calmed the sea and rescued them. “There arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves….Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm” (Matthew 8:24-26). This was one of their first indications He was more than a mere man. “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (v. 27).
Sailors know the value of a wise and experienced pilot who can guide their ship into safe harbor. In an analogous way, Christ and His Spirit can keep us from ruin—human, natural, or spiritual. Christ promised, “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). We are safe in His care.
The Old Testament contains the precious truth “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). We have the assurance that “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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While it looks like everything is out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who has not surrendered authority.
A.W. Tozer
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