Not an Altar Against God - Joshua 22:23

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, … Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity, then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, the LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knows, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty-three of Joshua we learn how, “we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering” where we read, 

That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it;

The verse reads, “That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “that we have built us an altar” which means “that we, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the one half tribe of Manasseh, have constructed and erected for ourselves a sacrificial structure and location” “to turn from following the LORD  or “to apostatize, forsake, lead away and relinquish coming after and behind Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Joshua or the writer shared how the Reubenites, the Gadites and the one half tribe of Manasseh referred to the possibility that they erected the “altar” to apostatize from coming after Jehovah God.  

The verse continues, “… or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it;” Joshua or the writer added the words, “or if to offer thereon burnt offerings” which means “or whether and in case to bring and carry up on the altar smoking sacrifices” “or meat offering” or “tribute, present, oblation and sacrifice”, “or if to offer peace offerings thereon” which means “or whether and in case to bring and carry up requital, alliance or friendship sacrifices on the altar”, “let the LORD himself” or “allow and permit Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God his own self” “require it” which means “desire, exact, demand or request the offerings”. Joshua or the writer shared how the Reubenites, the Gadites and the one half tribe of Manasseh said whether and in case there was to be a burnt, meat or peace sacrifice made upon the altar they built, allow Jehovah God to request it. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how the Reubenites, the Gadites and the one half tribe of Manasseh were defending their reason for building the “altar”. They presented the idea that the reason they built the “altar” was for making sacrifices to Jehovah God, and if that was the case, then Jehovah God could request the “burnt, meal or peace offering” from them. We shall see more of their explanation in our next verses, but for now let us admire the determination of these tribes to explain why they made this “altar”. God wants us to have a personal intimate relationship with Him, and this was made available to us through His Son Jesus who came 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 our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time we learn how they answered, “if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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