Bible Verse Synopsis 8/30/24

Joshua 22

An altar was constructed by the tribes of Gas, Reuben, and the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh near the spot where Israel had crossed the Jordan. God hath decided that the ONLY altar in Israel was to be in Shiloh. Therefore, the remaining tribes took up arms against the others in the name of the Lord. They had seen how the power of the Lord works and believed! The remaining tribes wanted nothing to do with this altar as it could only bring about pain and suffering. Anything not done with direct mention from Him has the risk of being against His will. Yet the explanation from the altar builders is odd. It was built as a witness between Gad and Reuben. Why is an altar needed to remind them of this? What weakness in man requires such a thing? The other tribes believed the explanation as it suited them. Yet, men remain weak. Joshua and the Lord were never consulted over this manner. What things in our lives have we made altars to distract from the power of the Lord? What weakness do we create and explain away, even as God tells us "This is not what you would do with me there"? Find the strength to rely on Him in times of weakness as Israel shows us it is so easy to forget to rely on Him.