Monday - Joshua 22 - Ed

Proverbs 18:13 says, "He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him." That principle should be obvious, yet, how often do we pass judgment on people with only a few shreds of uncorroborated information. In Israel, the 2.5 eastern tribes had a noble idea. They wanted to remind themselves, their descendants and the 9.5 western tribes that they were a legitimate part of the rest of the nation. So, they built an altar and named it "Ed" - which basically meant it was supposed to be a witness. It was a monument that was intended to be a testimony between the east and the west.

So, someone did spread the word among the western tribes that the eastern tribes had built another altar beside the one that God had ordained. Without knowing the whole story, they declared war on those tribes. Thank God for Phinehas! In the mustering to arms that was commencing, somewhere in the clanking of swords someone suggested sending leaders over to examine the altar and to enquire of the eastern tribes concerning what had happened. Phinehas was selected to be the leader of the emissaries that were sent. After he heard their explanation, he canceled the fight plan.