In the book of Joshua, we learned how Eleazar’s son Phinehas and ten princes asked the tribe of Reuben, Gad and one-half the tribe of Manasseh, “What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD” … “and they answered among other words, “And 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?”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty-five of Joshua we learn how the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh said, “the LORD has made Jordan a border between us and you” where we read,
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.
The verse reads, “For the LORD has made Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad;, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “for the LORD” which means “because, since and on account that Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “has made Jordan” or “has caused Jordan whose name means ‘descender’ and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km)” “a border between us and you” which means “an edge, circuit or boundary among and in the midst of us ”, “and you” or “and the following people”, “you children of Reuben” or “you offspring and progeny belonging to Reuben whose name means ‘behold a son’ and was the eldest son of Jacob by Leah and the tribe that descended from Reuben” “and children of Gad” which means “and offspring and progeny belonging to Gad whose name means ‘troop’ and was seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, and full brother of Asher”. Joshua or the writer shared how the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh concluded that Jehovah God caused the “River Jordan” to be in the middle of them and the people of Israel.
The verse continues, “… you have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “you have no part” which means “you, Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh, do not own or possess a share, portion of allotment of territory“in the LORD” or “within Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”: “so shall your children” which means “even so and thus will your offspring and progeny” “make our children cease” or “cause and fashion our, the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh’s, offspring and progeny to desist, be exterminated and cause to be removed and put to an end” “from fearing the LORD” which means “separate and apart from having awe, reverence and honor toward Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Joshua or the writer said the offspring of Israel would conclude that the offspring of the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh do not possess any relationship with Jehovah God, and this would cause them to be cast away and put to an end.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn why the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh built the altar before they entered their promised land. They were concerned that the offering of Israel would forget them and cause them to be put to an end because they had no portion in Jehovah God. In other words, they did not relate to Him at all. This is the opposite of God’s desire for everyone. God loves people, and He proved His love when He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and equip us to live according to His purpose and will for our lives. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)
Next time we learn how the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh answered, “therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".









































