Joshua 22:11-34 – Handling and preventing misunderstanding

Joshua 22:10-34 is a good passage to learn concerning handling and preventing misunderstanding, the great advocate for disunity. Misunderstanding creates strife for brethren and prevents harmonious and peaceful co-existence. It is often caused by a lack of communication, presumption, and a failure to clarify. Thankfully, for the nation of Israel, it was resolved through the willingness to sit down, reasonably discuss and understanding the rationale and perspective of the other party’s decision.

When the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh took possession of the land east of Jordan, they built an altar. They did it without making their intention known to the rest of the tribes that had settled in the land of Canaan. Not making their intenti0n known to the remaining nine and a half tribes caused the latter to conclude wrongly. They presumed that those two and a half tribes had reneged. So, in verse 16 we see their strong but wrong rebuke released upon the two and a half tribes. They said, ‘What is this unfaithful act which you have committed against the God of Israel, turning away from following the Lord this day, by building yourselves an altar, to rebel against the Lord this day.” This is being presumptuous. They assumed that they were unfaithful and had built an altar to foreign gods. They remembered two incidences in the past that brought great disrepute to the nation. One was the situation when they were led astray by Balaam at Peor. This incidence is recorded in Numbers 22-23. The other situation, recorded in Joshua 7, was when Achan kept a banned article and caused Israel to be defeated in their battle with Ai.       

Fortunately, the tribes from the west of Jordan were wise to confront the situation directly with the two and a half tribes east of Jordan. This upfront dialogue provided an opportunity for them to explain their perspective. The tribes in the east of Jordan had a healthy reason for doing what they did. Their intention was clear. The altar was supposed to be a unifying object between them living in the east of Jordan and their brethren living in the west. It was not intended to be an altar of sacrifice. For they did not want the River Jordan to be a barrier between them. So, they replicated the altar seen at the Tabernacle so as to remind them and future generation of their kinship with the rest of Israel. They did it with good intention and implored the Lord to be their witness. A misunderstanding was averted and the relationship between the tribes continued to exist peacefully. What they said made sense and brought great relief to the tribes in the land of Canaan. So, the misunderstanding was peacefully resolved.   

Here are four critical factors to ensure harmonious relationship in our co-laboring:

1.              Stay faithful in our relationship with God and our fellow brethren.

2.             Make known intentions clearly to avoid others from second-guessing our intent.

3.             Refuse to presume without finding out the real reason.     

4.             Engage in needful dialogues to understand perspectives.