Joshua (16)—Be Careful With Assumptions - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

The children of Israel sent Phinehas … and with him ten rulers, one ruler each from the chief house of every tribe of Israel … Then they came to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them … Then [they] answered … And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the rulers, returned … to the children of Israel, and brought back word to them. So the thing pleased the children of Israel, and the children of Israel blessed God; they spoke no more of going against them in battle.
Joshua 22:13–33

Joshua (16)—Be Careful With Assumptions
The warriors of the tribes east of the Jordan River had built a grand altar at the Jordan, a replica of Israel’s altar of burnt offering before the tabernacle. This greatly perturbed the other tribes who, jumping to their own conclusions, assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them. But before doing this, they sent a delegation of princes to investigate, headed by Phinehas, the priest who had previously shown his zeal for the Lord. This was in keeping with the instruction God had given in Deuteronomy 13:14 to “inquire, search out, and ask diligently.”

Though the delegation had come with their minds made up, and had expressed themselves in very strong terms, they were willing to listen to the explanation of the two and a half tribes. When they had heard them out, “it pleased them.” Reporting back to their fellow countrymen, they blessed God, and the matter was settled.

God has put this account in His Word for our learning. Do we act on basis of our assumptions, or do we carefully check things out? Are we willing to listen to the explanations others give for their actions, or do we argue and insist on our opinions? Do we seek peace and pursue it (1 Pet. 3:11)? Do we thank God when we learn others were right and we were wrong in our conclusions?

Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.