When the Battle’s Over (JOSHUA 22)

Their honorable discharge (Josh. 22:1–8)

“In defeat unbeatable; in victory unbearable.” That’s the way Sir Winston Churchill described a British army officer famous in the Second World War. The first half of the description would apply to Joshua, because he knew how to win victory out of defeat. But the last half doesn’t apply at all; for as commander of the Lord’s army, Joshua was magnanimous in the way he treated his troops after the victory. An Italian proverb says, “It’s the blood of the soldier that makes the general great.” But this general made his soldiers great! This is clearly seen in the way he discharged the tribes who lived on the east side of the Jordan.

I. He commended them (Josh. 22:1–3).

1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, 2 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. 3 You have not left your brethren these many days, up to this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.

A. Joshua commended these tribes for their faithfulness.

They were faithful to what Moses, Joshua, and God himself had commanded them: they were not to settle into their lands until the entire land of Canaan had been taken.

These two and a half tribes had promised Moses that they would remain in the army until all the land was conquered, and they kept their promise. After the death of Moses, they pledged that same loyalty to Joshua, their new leader. These tribes had been loyal to Moses, to Joshua, and to their brothers from the other tribes.

B. Why had they been so loyal to their leaders and fellow soldiers?

Because they were first of all loyal to the Lord their God. It was His mission they were carrying out and His name they were seeking to glorify.

In the service of the Lord, far above our devotion to a leader, a cause, or even a nation is our devotion to the Lord. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23–24, NKJV).

II. He discharged them (Josh. 22:4)

4 And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brethren, as He promised them; now therefore, return and go to your tents and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan.

A. The tribes were now free to go home.

God too had been faithful to his promises: he had given rest to the tribes west of the Jordan.

The concept of rest is important in the Book of Joshua and means much more than simply the end of the war. The word carries with it the meaning of both victory and security, and it involved Israel having their “resting place” in the land. God promised to give His people rest, and He kept His promise.

B. There is a spiritual application of this rest for God’s people today.

When we trust Christ as Savior, we enter into rest because we’re no longer at war with God. When we yield ourselves completely to Him and claim our inheritance by faith, we enter into a deeper rest and enjoy our spiritual riches in Christ.

Imagine what it would be like for these soldiers to return home after being away for so many years! Think of the love they would experience, the joys they would find, the treasures they would share! That’s just a small picture of what happens when the children of God enter into the rest God gives to those who will yield their all to Him and trust His Word.

III. He admonished them (Josh. 22:5)

5 But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

A. Joshua was more concerned about the spiritual walk of his people than anything else.

The army had experienced victory in Canaan because Joshua loved the Lord and obeyed His Word, and that would be the “open secret” of Israel’s continued peace and prosperity. Just as they had been diligent in battle, obeying their commander, so they must be diligent in worship, obeying the Lord their God.

Joshua’s words in v. 5 are passionate, and they capture the heart of the chapter’s message about faithfulness and loyalty. What God had urged Joshua himself to do, Joshua now urged the people to do.

B. The motive for their obedience had to be love for the Lord their God.

If they loved Him, then they would delight in walking in all His ways and obeying all His commandments. Instead of trying to serve two masters, they would cling (cleave) to the Lord and serve Him alone, with all their heart and soul.

This verse gives a comprehensive picture of what a proper relationship to God was to include: to love God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him, and to serve him.

IV. He blessed them (Josh. 22:6–8)

6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents. 7 Now to half the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half of it Joshua gave a possession among their brethren on this side of the Jordan, westward. And indeed, when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them, 8 and spoke to them, saying, “Return with much riches to your tents, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, with bronze, with iron, and with very much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.”

A. Joshua’s blessing was of the nature of a parting farewell.

It was the ministry of the high priest to bless God’s people, but the common people could invoke God’s blessing on others, especially a leader upon his people or a father upon his family. What a sight to see a great general asking God’s blessing on his troops!

The farewell blessing is interrupted in v. 7 by the explanation of the unique situation of the tribe of Manasseh, which had two land portions, one on each side of the Jordan. Both Moses and Joshua are acknowledged as distributors of the land here. The insertion undoubtedly was for the purpose of stressing the unity of this tribe, which symbolized within its own tribal context the larger unity that was to characterize the entire nation.

B. This blessing also involved sharing the rich spoils of battle.

It was the custom in Israel that those who stayed home, or who couldn’t participate in the battle for some good reason, also shared the spoils. After all, these people had protected the home cities and kept the community going while the men had been out fighting, and it was only fair that they share in the spoils.

This was just another display of unity and loyalty.