Prayer: Father, I come prepared of heart and mind to listen, learn, and apply Your Word today. Mentor me in Your ways. Amen.
Reading: Joshua 22 key: vs. 34 “So the children of Reuben and the children of Gad named the altar, “for it is a witness between us that Adonai is God.” TLV
Attention: Have you ever had family members who walked away from God? Maybe you have had your children marry and begin exhibiting a lifestyle which is rebellious or hedonistic and opposed to God. I’m sure that you have prayed for them, but have you been willing to approach them, address your concerns and inquire about their motives or intentions?
Understand that Hebrew lifestyle was Theocratic. There was only One God, Adonai, and only Adonai was to be worshiped by the Hebrew nation. The half-tribe of Manasseh was split geographically. Half of the family of Manasseh lived on either side of the Jordan river. The half-family which was in Canaan the promised land, had designated worship centers. The expectation was that the family on the other side of the Jordan river would come to their worship center. When they saw their half-family build a “large, conspicuous altar,” they had concerns about their intentions. So much so, that they were ready to go to war against their own family members if they had built their altar in rebellion against Adonai.
The leaders of the half-family across the river assured the other half of the family, that their purpose for building the altar was to be a “witness between us and you. Far be it from us that we should rebel against Adonai and turn away this day from following Adonai, by building an altar for burnt offering, for grain offering or for sacrifice, besides the altar of Adonai our God that stands before His Tabernacle (vs. 29).”
By inquiring into their intentions, their curiosity was satisfied. ““Today we know that Adonai is in the midst of us, because you have not committed this treachery against Adonai.” The proverbial elephant in the room was exposed and the perceived “treachery against Adonai,” was avoided.
Sometimes our intentions are misperceived, and war can be avoided by confronting in love. May we be willing to confront in love too.
Action: I choose today to be a peace maker and confront in love.
Yield: I choose today to yield to the process of confronting in love.
Engage: I choose today to engage with the help of the Holy Spirit to confront in love.
Relationship: I choose today to build and maintain relationships with Adonai and His followers.
Prayer: Father, I pray for peace makers who are willing to confront in love. May we add disciples to Your Kingdom. Amen.
Memory Verse: Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” TLV
Music Video: Phil Wickham—Falling In Love https://youtu.be/TLlQOwnsexU
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”