Rebel Against YHWH

Introduction

We are continuing in our Journey through Joshua. What an amazing Journey it has been. we are finishing up the last of the series this month. Which means some of you will be happy, you are board with the same, or you are board with the OT. Which really is a shame being 2/3 of our Bibles we need to be studying the OT. Some of you wish we could spend a bit more time on this.

Do you struggle with the OT? Why or Why Not?

Joshua 22

When we arrive in Joshua 22 the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh are heading home. They has helped conquer the Land and Now they are heading home.

Joshua Gives them a grand warning as they leave in Verse 5 to be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses commanded. Love YAHWEH your God, Walk in all his ways, Keep his commandments, Hold fast and Serve him with all you heart and with all your soul.

This should remind you of other teachings from the OT and teachings of Jesus as he was teaching from the OT. I automatically think of Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Matthew 22:36-40, the part where Jesus taught the greatest commandment comes from.

They go back to their home land where this great big river is in between like the Colorado, before big fancy bridges and automobiles.

Joshua 22:10–20 LEB

And they came to the region of the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, and the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar on the Jordan, a large and imposing altar. And the Israelites heard it said that the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar next to the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, on the side belonging to the Israelites. When the Israelites heard of it, the whole congregation of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh to go up against them for battle. And the Israelites sent to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, Phinehas the priest son of Eleazar, and ten leaders with him, one leader for each family from each of the tribes of Israel; and each one was the head of his family among the clans of Israel. They came to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying, “Thus says all the congregation of Yahweh: ‘What is this treachery that you have committed against the God of Israel by turning away today from following Yahweh, by building for yourselves an altar to rebel today against Yahweh? Is not the sin of Peor enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves today, and for which a plague came to the congregation of Yahweh, that you must turn today from following Yahweh? If you rebel today against Yahweh, tomorrow he will be angry with all of the congregation of Israel; if, however, the land of your property is unclean, cross over to the land of Yahweh’s property, where Yahweh’s tabernacle resides, and take possession among us. But you must not rebel against Yahweh or against us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of Yahweh our God. Did not Achan son of Zerah commit treachery with devoted things, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? And he alone did not perish because of his iniquity.’ ”

The People Go home and already they are starting on a new Altar project. and this scares people. This Scares them because if one of the group is turning away God’s wrath could fall on all of the congregation.

This is sobering Words. Thankfully in this case it turned out to be a misunderstanding. The people across the river realized that they could not get to the tabernacle like they had before and wanted to have a place to worship God in their own area.

They name the place witness because

Joshua 22:34 LEB

The descendants of Reuben and Gad called the altar Witness, “Because,” they said, “it is a witness between us that Yahweh is God.”

The Sin Among Us

What sins are among us?

What if we were to take this serious the sin among us. When this group was in fear of apostacy they were ready to Go to war over it. in fear that the one would lead to the whole being punished.

Would God Go to that lengths.

Think about it from his perspective. They His people that he has called out, by name no less have just decided to take the land of promise. Something that the Generation before over looked and God has let that slide and let this Generation be for the whole. and then they immediately turn and make altars. Which in turn could lead the whole nation astray. Yes he could have, but he knew their hearts and knew that it was not about apostacy but about waning a closer place to worship.

But do you think we would be different if we took that seriously the call of Sin in us.

We are an individualistic society. So Let us begin with “Me”.

Am I willing to go to war with the parts of me that lead me to sin?

Am I willing to do what in necessary to put to death the sin in my own life?

Matthew 5:29 LEB

And if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it from you! For it is better for you that one of your members be destroyed than your whole body be thrown into hell.

Serious talk!

What about in our own congregation? The danger here is Can you call someone out without Judging?

Yes it is possible. We focus on our own planks in our eye but we can help others see their sin.

But can you?

We Also have to face the challenge of can I hear it? We often don’t want to hear about our own sin. Though if we are honest most times we know.

But it is hard to hear. We have pride. We get easily offended. We Get angry. We like to pretend know one knows

We often don’t really need someone to point it out because we know.

But if we took it seriously as the Israelite wouldn’t we?

My advice. If you are not actively in a relationship with someone. Encouraging, laughing, friends even then by all means point out the speck in their eye. There is something in their eye. If you are not then you are just judging.

If a friend comes to you and says, I know you struggle with X and I see this behavior not OK. It is false worship

If you are not keep your mouth shut it ain’t your place.

And always with the grace, mercy and love that God has shown to you.

Next Steps

War with sin in your life?

Cut something out.

Take it seriously