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,”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty-two of Joshua we learn how, “the LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knows, and Israel he shall know” where we read,
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,)
The verse reads, “The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knows, and Israel he shall know;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “the LORD God of gods” which means “Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God who is the Supreme Deity of deities” “the LORD God of gods” or “Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God who is the Supreme Deity of deities”, “he knows” which means “he, Jehovah God, perceives, discerns, distinguishes and discriminates”,“and Israel” whose name means “God prevails” and “is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “and Israel he shall know” which means “and Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ will perceive, discern, distinguish and discriminate”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of “Reuben, Gad and the one-half tribe of Manasseh” declared that Jehovah God is aware of what they were doing and the people of “Israel” would discern as well.
The verse goes on to say, “if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “if it be in rebellion” which means “whether and in case it, the erecting of the altar, exists in revolt”,“or if in transgression” or “whether and in case the building of the altar is an unfaithful and treacherous act” “against the LORD” which means “in opposition to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One True God”, “(save us not this day)” or “do not liberate or deliver us, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the one half tribe of Manasseh, upon this particular sunrise to sunset”. Joshua or the writer shared how the Reubenites, the Gadites and the one half tribe of Manasseh said in case they built the altar as an act of revolt and treachery, they should not be spared on that “day”.
When we consider the words in this verse, we discover how the people of the Reuben, Gad and the one half tribe of Manasseh responded to “Phinehas and the ten princes’” charges against them. They made their appeal to Jehovah God’s knowledge concerning their motives for building the sacrificial place. They even said they should not be “saved” if their act was in revolt or treachery in opposition to God. God knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts, and because we all have sin in our lives that leads to death, (See Romans 3:23; 6:23) He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we surrender our lives 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 help us to live in a manner that is in alignment with Him and His purposes. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)
Next time we learn how they answered, “we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering”, 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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