Joshua 22:34
"And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad
called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness
between us that the Lord is God."
After Israel possessed the land that God had promised them, Joshua called the Reubenites and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh together, to release them to go back across the Jordon River to Possess the land that Moses had given them. Now these three tribes already had their land and their families were living on it. But the father's and the son's of the tribes went into battle and helped the other tribes possess their land. Now remember the Reubenites and the Gadites, land was on the other side of the Jordon, and the rest of Israel was on the side called the Promise Land (IE) The Land of Milk and Honey. Other words they were fighting for land that they would not possess.
After all was settled and everyone was on the land they were given, things began to change. There were two groups of Christians who served the same God, but now separated from each other. So now there was one group that worshiped on one side of the Jordon, and the other worshiped on the other side of the Jordon. The Reubenites and the Gadites built there own Altar where Israel passed over the Jordon; so now there was two "Altar's"! The Altar of The Lord, And The Altar Called Ed.
This my friends is were the first rival of Christian's almost took place. Yes there was about to be a big battle; because Joshua and all the other tribes were stir up over this other altar that their brethren had built. So Joshua's congregation told them that they had rebelled against God and turned away from following God.
This is an example for all Churches of today. We may know the name of their denomination (IE), Baptist, Catholic, etc. But that is all from the out side looking in; therefore, we disagree, talk about or just plain out rebel against all groups of Christians that don't believe like we do. But as Joshua and his congregation found out; the Reubenites and Gadites still worshiped the same God. The Altar called Ed: was build for a witness, to show that even though they were on the other side of the Jordon which was not the promise land, they still worshiped the same Lord God of Israel.
So the next time we hear or see something about our Christians brethren or another church that we don't like, because it is different than ours from the outside. Look on the inside, get to know the people and the church, than you will know if they worship the same God as you. The creator of all things "The Lord God Of The Universe." Then we can band together with God and defeat Satan and his warriors of today!
Amen!!
Reading: (Joshua 22:1-34)
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
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