The LORD is Among Us - Joshua 22:31

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, “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, and when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them” and in chapter twenty-two and verse thirty-one of Joshua we learn how Phinehas and those with him said, “this day we perceive that the LORD is among us”, where we read, 

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.

The verse reads, “And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Phinehas” whose name means “mouth of brass” and was “the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron; his zealousness for the Lord averted a plague on Israel and gained him the promise of the Lord of an everlasting priesthood in his family and a spiritual leader and ruler of Israel”, “the son of Eleazar the priest” or “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Eleazar whose name means ‘God has helped’ and was the high priest son of Aaron” “said unto the children of Reuben” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed to the offspring and progeny belonging to Reuben whose name means ‘behold a son’ and was the eldest son of Jacob by Leah and the progenitor of the tribe Reuben” “and to the children of Gad” or “and toward the offspring and progeny belonging to Gad whose name means ‘troop’ and was the seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, and full brother of Asher and the progenitor of the tribe of Gad” “and to the children of Manasseh” which means “and to the offspring and progeny belonging to Manasseh whose name means ‘causing to forget’ and was the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Phinehas” began to speak to the offspring of the Reubenites, Gadites and the one-half tribe of Manasseh. 

The verse goes on to say, “… this day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “this day” which means “this current sunrise to sunset” “we perceive that the LORD is among us” or “we, Phinehas, the ten princes and those with them, that Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God exists in the midst and middle of us, Phinehas, his entourage and the people of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh”, “because you have not committed this trespass” which means “since and on account that you, Reubenites, Gadites and one-half tribe of Manasseh have in no way or manner acted treacherously or unfaithfully” “against the LORD” or “in opposition to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. “Now you have delivered” which means “at this time you, the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, have rescued and saved” “the children of Israel” or “the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “out of the hand of the LORD” which means “from the power, might, strength and authority belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One True God”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Phinehas” and those with him perceived on that sunrise to sunset that Jehovah God was in their midst since the Reubenites, Gadites and one-half tribe of Manasseh had not acted treacherously in opposition to Jehovah God, and this caused them to be rescued from His power and might. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how there was finally understanding brought to “Phinehas, the ten princes and those with him” concerning the construction of the “altar” by the people of “Reuben, Gad and one-half tribe of Manasseh”. Their charge was so serious that they might be delivered over to the power and might of Jehovah God because of it. Sometimes conclusions concerning motives and intent are misunderstood like this, and explanation is necessary for peace. God wants us to understand that we have sin in our lives that separates us from a personal relationship with Him. Sin also leads to death, (See Romans 6:23) and for this reason He sent His Son Jesus to be crucified on the cross for the sins of everyone. He raised Him from the dead after three days so when we surrender our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide His Holy Spirit to us to guide us into all truth and to help us keep the motives and intents of our hearts and minds in alignment with Him. (See Acts 1:8; Hebrews 4:12)

Next time we learn how, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned”, 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".