Back East Boys
Pastor Dusty Mackintosh
Joshua • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 34:06
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· 30 viewsAlmost immediately after “the Lord gave rest on every side” a crisis of division arises among God’s family. The “Western” Israelites assume the “Eastern” Israelites have made an forbidden altar and prepare for war. They seize the moral high ground. Phinehas and the leaders pause and actually listen to the excellent explanation and the crisis is averted. The moral high ground is quicksand. His grace is enough.
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Back East Boys
Back East Boys
Almost immediately after “the Lord gave rest on every side” a crisis of division arises among God’s family. The “Western” Israelites assume the “Eastern” Israelites have made an forbidden altar and prepare for war. They seize the moral high ground. Phinehas and the leaders pause and actually listen to the excellent explanation and the crisis is averted.
They take it upon themselves to judge their brother’s worship without knowing their story or their heart. We do this constantly: it feels good and it feels like righteousness. Be quick to hear, be quick to love.
His grace is enough.
May the Forth be with you
May the Forth be with you
In the climactic battle between Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobee, they make impossible leaps across floating islands of rock in a river of liquid magma. The athleticism is intense, the swords blur and literally fly through the air, and they scream at one another in anger.
And then comes the pivotal moment. Obi Wan leaps from one floating island to a slightly higher rock on the riverbed. And he yells “It’s over Anakin! I have the high ground.”
L
“Don’t try it.”
… but Anakin does and Obi Wan cuts off his legs.
In a world of space wizards, where they can move things with their mind, shoot lightning, and have laser swords, what is the unbeatable advantage? The high ground.
Jedi - the high ground.
The Moral High Ground
The Moral High Ground
In a world of space wizards, where they can move things with their mind, shoot lightning, and have laser swords, what is the unbeatable advantage? The high ground.
It doesn’t matter in Star Wars. But there is a high ground that is crucially important. The moral high ground.
Moral high ground is when you are in the ethically or morally superior position. You are the “good” guy doing the “right” thing. Or at least, you are the better guy.
The person with the moral high ground is most likely to win the argument… or especially the election which is why we see politicians and pundits of all sides fighting one another to claim the moral high ground. That is the position of power and victory… and it has the best view.
What’s more it feels good because you can get things done from that position.
Logan’s Secret Night time Watching
Logan’s Secret Night time Watching
I’ll give you an example. The other day (by which I mean any day not today, this was years ago) I awoke in the night to hear voices in my house. Downstairs voices. I was bleary and exhausted, a little freaked out, so I stumbled downstairs to see what was going on.
And there I find Logan at the computer watching some loud and obnoxious cartoon on YouTube. “Logan!” He jumps five feet in the air because he didn’t hear me coming.
“Unbelievable! Turn it off and go to bed now! No, I don’t want to hear a word, we will talk about it in the morning. What the heck man!”
And I went back to bed. Parenting accomplished, lesson taught, scare the righteousness of God right into him.
(and there is definitely not more to that story that will play in later).
Everyone go Home
Everyone go Home
In Joshua, every tribe and everyone has been assigned their inheritance. Including Caleb and Joshua, called out for a special inheritance because they “wholly followed Yawheh” all their life.
Resettling in the Inheritance
Resettling in the Inheritance
Rest in the land
Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
Joshua 21:43-
Isn’t that good news? Every promise kept, everyone going home, literally “rest on every side”. And they lived happily ever after.
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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
Joshua 22:1-4
and he blessed them and sent them with much wealth and livestock from the newly conquered lands. These were the guys who had left their inheritance, already conquered under Moses’ leadership, but they put it all on hold to help their fellow tribes conquer their inheritance. For many years they have been fighting on the West side of the Jordan, now they get to go home to the East side.
They are the Back East Boys, all right!
and he blessed them and sent them with much wealth and livestock from the newly conquered lands.
Worship Betrayal
Worship Betrayal
But oh no… immediately
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.
Oh no! They built an altar! God said not to build altars, that’s illegal worship! They are only supposed to worship in the tabernacle, only the one altar for the One God. This is the first step towards idolatry and paganism! Just wait until the rest of Israel hears about this!!!
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.
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.
Joshua 22:
Ready the dogs of war. The “people” of Israel heard of it. They didn’t all see it, but one friend told another friend. Did you hear what they did back east? They barely even waited a day before they descended into paganism and idolatry and false worship.
They send representatives from every tribe to say:
They send representatives from every tribe to say:
Joshua 22:16-
“Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord, ‘What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this day from following the Lord by building yourselves an altar this day in rebellion against the Lord? Have we not had enough of the sin at Peor from which even yet we have not cleansed ourselves, and for which there came a plague upon the congregation of the Lord, that you too must turn away this day from following the Lord? And if you too rebel against the Lord today then tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.
“Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord, ‘What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this day from following the Lord by building yourselves an altar this day in rebellion against the Lord? Have we not had enough of the sin at Peor from which even yet we have not cleansed ourselves, and for which there came a plague upon the congregation of the Lord, that you too must turn away this day from following the Lord? And if you too rebel against the Lord today then tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel. But now, if the land of your possession is unclean, pass over into the Lord’s land where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against the Lord or make us as rebels by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the Lord our God. Did not Achan the son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did not perish alone for his iniquity.’ ”
But now, if the land of your possession is unclean, pass over into the Lord’s land where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against the Lord or make us as rebels by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the Lord our God. Did not Achan the son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did not perish alone for his iniquity.’ ”
Don’t you remember how bad all this gets? How could you! What were you thinking??? Unbelievable!
The moral high ground.
The moral high ground.
Joshua 22:16
Creating the righteousness of God one pronouncement of judgment at a time.
Creating the righteousness of God one pronouncement of judgment at a time.
They are even kind of nice about it. Look, if you can’t handle your inheritance, if the temptation is too much, you can come back and settle with us. Ah buddy… couldn’t handle it, huh? I see that from my ludicrously high and righteous position. Come and back, it’s embarrassing but we will get you sorted out.
What is missing. Have we read a word about what God has to say on the matter? How about what those Back East Boys have to say for themselves? What’s their story?
Then the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel, “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against the Lord, do not spare us today for building an altar to turn away from following the Lord. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself take vengeance. No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel?
You think we did what??? No. God witness us, no.
You want the truth? We were afraid we would kind of grow apart since we are separated by this giant Death valley. We built this monument as a signal that we would always be best buds! Look what we made for you!
Joshua 22:21-
For the Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the Lord.’ So your children might make our children cease to worship the Lord. Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, “You have no portion in the Lord.” ’
And we thought, ‘If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we should say, “Behold, the copy of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you.” ’ Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away this day from following the Lord by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle!”
For the Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the Lord.’ So your children might make our children cease to worship the Lord. Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, “You have no portion in the Lord.” ’ And we thought, ‘If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we should say, “Behold, the copy of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you.” ’ Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away this day from following the Lord by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle!”
Oh… they had an explanation. They had an awesome reason. We heard their story… and it was actually a really good point. Um… thanks guys! Sorry about before when we almost murdered all of you and assembled all the tribes for war and stuff. Also, sorry about accusing you of idolatry and false worship and all that.
We’re cool right?
Joshua 22:25-
When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation, the heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the people of Manasseh spoke, it was good in their eyes. And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the people of Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is in our midst, because you have not committed this breach of faith against the Lord. Now you have delivered the people of Israel from the hand of the Lord.”
Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the chiefs, returned from the people of Reuben and the people of Gad in the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to them. And the report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. And the people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them to destroy the land where the people of Reuben and the people of Gad were settled. The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.”
When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation, the heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the people of Manasseh spoke, it was good in their eyes. And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the people of Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is in our midst, because you have not committed this breach of faith against the Lord. Now you have delivered the people of Israel from the hand of the Lord.” Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the chiefs, returned from the people of Reuben and the people of Gad in the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to them. And the report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. And the people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them to destroy the land where the people of Reuben and the people of Gad were settled. The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.”
-24
They listened.
But how dangerous was that position of the moral high ground?
When you stand on the moral high ground, you stand on quick sand
When you stand on the moral high ground, you stand on quick sand
Logan went to bed in silence, and I went back to bed in righteous indignation, ready to read him the riot act the next day.
The next morning I confronted him about it and his whole face clouded over.
“Dad, I...”
“What were you thinking?”
“Dad, I....”
“That is completely unacceptable.”
“Dad, I heard the noise too and was just figuring out what had happened.”
… what? It turns out Arabelle had been watching a YouTube video in the afternoon before and had just shut the lid. The computer went to sleep and, so conveniently, revved up to do something in the middle of the night and decided to pickup where it left off and started blasting out “My Little Pony”.
My moral high ground disappeared and I was left only with the ugliness of my self-righteousness and the pain I had caused my son.
When we stand on the moral high ground, we stand on quick sand.
Why do we get up there?
Why do we get up there?
It feels good. It makes us feel better about who we are. It distances us from their sin and makes less of my own failing.
Here is the most insidious one. It really really feels sometimes like we are speaking God’s truth and producing God’s righteousness in others.
It really feels like we are speaking God’s truth and producing God’s righteousness in others.
The people of Israel, they weren’t mad on their own behalf. Oh no! It was a worship issue and they were doing it wrong. God was surely moments away from striking them down, or punishing everyone because of their sin, just like with Achan. They are quoting Scripture. no burnt offerings at any other place...
They are speaking God’s truth and producing God’s righteousness in others. That is the only reason they have ascended to this beautiful stretch of moral high ground. They need the view and the platform to do God’s work for him.
And maybe I don’t know the story… but I can see well enough from up here.
How eager are they for division? To place the superior smack down on their “brothers”. To take the position of moral superiority...
What is the response? The people East of the Jordan were just afraid of being separated from the rest. Cut off and diminished. The irony is that what they meant to be a symbol of unity and connection was almost the cause of the exact kind of separation they had feared.
Division in the Kingdom of God. Denominations and church splits.
Unity in the Kingdom, Unity in the Family of God.
And maybe I haven’t heard their reason… but I have already imagined what they’ll say in my mind and I am not convinced by the arguments I made-up for them to say to me!
Take care that you do not offer your burnt offerings at any place that you see, but at the place that the Lord will choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I am commanding you.
the Moral High Ground
the Moral High Ground
Why do we love it so much?
Oh… they had a good reason for doing that!
I know the story. I know their reason.
The anger kind of feels like righteousness… but it isn’t.
The anger kind of feels like righteousness… but it isn’t.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
It doesn’t produce righteousness in them.
It doesn’t produce righteousness in me.
Love looks like listening. Very slow to speak. Perhaps almost never. Some of us are so prone to climbing that mountain of moral superiority… I need to check my footing 100 times before I speak a single word. I need to practice the listening, lean into the understanding.
In a world of grace, seizing the “moral high ground” makes no more sense than it did in Star Wars.
In a world of grace
It is absolutely ludicrious. Nobody wins because of the moral high ground, we are in moral quicksand. Our only way out is grace, forgiveness though the blood of Jesus Christ.
His grace is enough. His grace is enough to lift me out of my sin. His grace is enough to handle the sin I think they are making too.
The Israelites immediately began splintering into factions. Bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander.
His grace is enough to speak truth from the right person at the right time and that is probably and almost always not going to be you.
Doesn’t that sound like church history? Doesn’t that sound like some churches you have been to? Maybe that sounds like your family?
His grace is enough to save us from ourselves despite ourselves.
Let us forever abandon the moral high ground, step out of the quicksand, and be a people of His grace.
The Moral High Ground. It has the feel of righteousness. It can look and sound like justice. But unless it comes with a total understanding of the circumstances and their heart, it is anger and clamor and slander and it has no place among us!