What is the meaning of Joshua 22:24? But in fact we have done this • The eastern tribes (Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh) had erected a large altar by the Jordan. They were immediately suspected of idolatry by the western tribes (Joshua 22:10–12). • Their opening words, “But in fact we have done this,” serve as a firm clarification: the altar was not built in rebellion but in obedience and love. • Like Jacob’s heap of stones that testified to a covenant with Laban (Genesis 31:46–52), this altar was meant as a witness, not as a rival place of sacrifice (Joshua 22:26–27). for fear • “Fear” here is not cowardice but a reverent concern to protect covenant faithfulness. Proverbs 1:7 reminds us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” • The tribes sensed a real danger: geographic separation could lead to spiritual drift, just as later generations of Israelites forgot the LORD in Judges 2:10–12. • Their fear therefore produced proactive obedience, echoing Paul’s call to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). that in the future • Their vision extended beyond the present skirmish to generations yet unborn, reflecting Deuteronomy 6:20–25, where parents are told to anticipate their children’s questions about the faith. • Planning for the spiritual welfare of grandchildren mirrors Psalm 78:5–7: “He decreed statutes…that the next generation might know them.” • The altar, then, is a tangible legacy, preaching long after its builders are gone. your descendants might say to ours • Tribal identity was strong, and history shows how quickly Israelites could turn on one another (Judges 8:1; 12:1). • The eastern tribes anticipated a possible accusation: “You live across the river; you’re outsiders.” • By setting up a visible witness on the western bank, they provided a continual reminder that both sides shared the same covenant and the same God. What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? • Spiritual exclusion is devastating. When the Samaritans later offered to help rebuild the temple, Zerubbabel’s leaders replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God” (Ezra 4:3). • The eastern tribes dreaded hearing similar words, so they established proof that “the LORD Himself is God” for all of them (Joshua 22:34). • In Christ, the ultimate fulfillment, the dividing walls are torn down (Ephesians 2:12–14). Their altar foreshadows that inclusive unity, declaring, “We, too, belong.” summary Joshua 22:24 captures a heartfelt, forward-looking strategy: the eastern tribes built a witness-altar not in rebellion but in reverent fear, ensuring future generations on both sides of the Jordan would know they shared the same covenant Lord. It teaches us to guard unity, think generationally, and leave clear testimonies that point to the one true God. |
    |