Only God Knows The Whole Truth

Joshua 22:22-24 -  “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day.  If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account. “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel?

Joshua had informed the 2 ½ tribes that Moses had granted land on the east side of the Jordan that they had fulfilled their commitment to help them fight until all the Promised land was claimed. He sent them on their way...back to their families…but before they felt secure in crossing the great river they stopped to build an enormous altar. It was intended to be a reminder to stay unified as a people…even though they would be separated physically by the river. 

But as word spread back to camp…rumors ….guesses...and the gossip of all had concocted a grand story of them already leaving God. What happened next is a great reminder of how to handle news that might be distressing and worrisome…especially if your own eyes and ears did not witness the original version.

First they sent a team of leaders and elders with Eleazar the priest to see what was going on.  They reminded these tribes of how God would feel if indeed the rumors were true.  Second…the tribes reacted with gentleness…understanding completely the deep concern they voiced.  Then the tribes explained the altar to them and how they wanted it to be a reminder of unity. And as they all parted that day…a sense of peace and love permeated their decision to believe all that they had explained.

I needed the reminder that jumping to conclusions hardly ever ends up being what actually happened. It is always better to go to someone and gently ask them if indeed something you heard is true. There is nothing wrong with pointing out what might be wrong with it as well.  But the lesson for me here is to always keep and open mind. To be willing to listen…trust and believe in what we are told first hand.  Sure…I can also admit that sometimes we might accept a really good lie…but the liar is the one who will be judged for that…in God’s own time.

It reminds me of that story in John 8…where the Sadducees were trying to use a woman’s sin of adultery to trap Jesus.  God had taught him…like he had Joshua and Eleazar how to use mercy and grace when dealing with people’s sin…and other people’s judgmental attitudes.  I just bet that writing in the sand was everyone else’s sin.

Father…thank you for the reminder that the truth is sometimes twisted into a thing that worries and concerns the heart of one who loves you.  Forgive me for the times that I have reacted to a story without checking it out for myself first.  Help me to always remember to ask you for a dose of mercy and grace before I meet with them to hear their side…then react the way Jesus might have if he were there. Amen.