https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/10202971449302684
October 10, 2014
The zeal of vigilant fidelity
Behold the zeal of vigilant fidelity of the western tribes... Joshua 22.
This is what the eastern tribes did:
10 ¶ And when they came unto the borders of
Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children
of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great
altar to see to.
[sic: a great altar to SEE TO; not a great altar to OFFER ON!
"A great altar to see to" states the specific REASON they built the
altar.
This is the commendable reaction of the
western tribes:
11 And the children of Israel heard say,
Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of
Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of
Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.
12 And when the children of Israel heard of
it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves
together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.
Please note each word, "the whole
congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh,
to go up to war against them."
But why such a big fuss over a great
altar, you may ask! Good question! What’s so wrong with building an altar?
The reason for their zealous and
intense reaction:
In Deut 12, Israel was commanded to
offer their sacrifices "in the place which the LORD shall choose…” 13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not
thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: 14 But in the place which
the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt
offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee. and no where
else."
Building a separate altar is tantamount
to open rebellion against the LORD, and shall invite His just and righteous
wrath upon whole the nation. For the truth of God, they were ready to go to war
against the fellow Israelites who defy the LORD's command.
Where is such zeal today, zeal for the
LORD's truth?
However, when the western tribes were
shown to be terribly mistaken in their perception concerning the action of the
eastern tribes, they were appeased, and pleased, and blessed the LORD! They
were fair, they heard from the eastern tribes themselves to ascertain the truth
of the matter. They were peaceable.
O the preciousness of that peaceable
spirit! How do you react when you are shown that you were terribly mistaken
about your brethren?
33 And the thing pleased the children of
Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up
against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and
Gad dwelt.
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.
