How does Joshua 22:25 warn against creating divisions among God's people today? “For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. ‘You have no share in the LORD,’ said your descendants to our descendants. So you would make our descendants stop fearing the LORD.” Setting the Scene • After years of conquest, the eastern tribes (Reuben, Gad, half-Manasseh) were heading home across the Jordan. • To show continued loyalty to the LORD, they built a large altar by the river. • The western tribes misread the altar as rebellion and prepared for war (vv. 10-12). • Verse 25 captures the fear behind that reaction: generations might eventually claim, “You’re on the wrong side of the river—so you don’t belong to the LORD.” The Core Warning Man-made boundaries—geographical, cultural, stylistic, or denominational—can become excuses to declare, “You have no share in the LORD.” Such claims: • Undermine the God-given unity of His covenant people. • Risk driving future generations away from wholehearted faith. • Force brothers and sisters to prove their legitimacy instead of celebrating shared allegiance to Christ. Why Divisions Still Happen Today • Preference becomes doctrine: music styles, service formats, dress codes. • Location breeds suspicion: urban vs. rural, “online church” vs. in-person. • Generational misunderstanding: older believers fear younger methods will dilute truth; younger believers fear tradition will hinder mission. • Ethnic or social boundaries: assuming “our” way equals God’s way. Biblical Echoes of the Same Warning • 1 Corinthians 1:10—“that there be no divisions among you.” • Ephesians 4:3-6—one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. • John 17:20-21—Jesus prays that all believers “may be one… so that the world may believe.” • Psalm 133:1—“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” Practical Safeguards Against Modern “Jordan Rivers” 1. Examine motives before reacting – Ask, “Am I assuming rebellion where there may be reverence expressed differently?” 2. Pursue clarification, not confrontation first – The western tribes sent a delegation (Joshua 22:13-14) before drawing swords—model the same. 3. Anchor fellowship in shared essentials – Salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and submission to Scripture remain non-negotiable; styles and methods rarely belong in that category. 4. Speak identity over accusation – Remind one another, “We are fellow heirs” (Romans 8:17) instead of “You have no share in the LORD.” 5. Think generationally – Decisions today shape whether children will “stop fearing the LORD” tomorrow. Guard unity for their sake. Living the Lesson • Celebrate faithful believers who worship on the “other side of the river” (different building, language, or format). • When you spot a potential fault line, initiate a conversation seasoned with grace (Colossians 4:6). • Keep the cross at the center; it dismantles “the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). • Let unity become evangelism: a watching world notices when God’s people refuse to fracture. Summing Up Joshua 22:25 reminds us that artificial lines can grow into spiritual walls. Guard the unity Christ purchased, resist quick judgments, and ensure every generation hears, “You have a full share in the LORD.” |
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