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, “it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, You have no part in the LORD. Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty-nine of Joshua we learn how the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh said, “God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD”, where we read,
God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.
The verse reads, “God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “God forbid” which means “far be it from me or let it not be” “that we should rebel” or “that we, the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh ought to revolt and be rebellious” “against the LORD” which means “in opposition to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One True God”, “and turn this day” or “and turn or go back this particular sunrise to sunset” “from following the LORD” which means “separate and apart from Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Joshua or the writer shared how the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh completely rejected the idea of them revolting in opposition and not pursuing Jehovah God on that “day”.
The verse goes on to say, “… to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “to build an altar” which means “to erect and construct a sacrificial place” “for burnt offerings” or “on behalf of smoking offerings”, “for meat offerings” which means “on behalf of oblations, gift sacrifices and tributes”, “or for sacrifices” or “on behalf of offerings of thanksgiving and righteousness”, “beside the altar of the LORD our God” which means “alongside and accompanying the sacrificial place belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”, “that is before his tabernacle” or “that exists in front and in the presence of his, Jehovah God’s, sacred and pure dwelling place, habitation or tent”. Joshua or the writer shared how the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh said they would in no way construct an “altar” that was to be used in place of the sacred and pure one used in the presence of Jehovah God’s tabernacle.
When we consider the words in this verse, we how the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh continued their defense against erecting a sacrificial place for any other reason than to employ it as a “witness” to the people of Israel that they served Jehovah God and were part of them. God wants everyone to be in a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so our ways are pleasing to Him. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)
Next time we learn what happened, “when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard”, 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".
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