Communication, Communication, Communication

Joshua 22: 10 When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan.
11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 12 the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.
20 When Achan son of Zerah acted unfaithfully regarding the devoted things, did not wrath come upon the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.' "
One of the great testimonies of the Old Testament is the seriousness that the Israelites deemed sin. They knew that God dealt harshly with sin. It was still fresh in their minds how God dealt with Achan, and not only Achan….but 36 men died in battle as a result of his sin.
The 9 ½ remaining tribes of the Israelites had just commissioned the Ruebenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh to head back east.
The 9 ½ tribes assumed that group they had dispatched was building a sacrificial alter in defiance to the one at Shiloh. Therefore, they set out to make war against them, to bring them back in line, or to eradicate the problem…the wayward brothers themselves. This slight misunderstanding could have led to a major civil war between tribes…. between brothers.
I think about churches today and the problems they have, and more times than not….it boils down to communication. Now I’m not sure if the 2 ½ had planned to build this altar before they left, but if they had…a good idea would have been to explain their intentions, before they left. But then also, the 9 ½ were sure quick to jump the gun on condemning, without knowing the ‘real story’.
The 2 ½ were very gracious to the 9 ½ , without becoming indignant, like would be human nature. How dare you question our motives…If you have ever been wrongly accused…this is our first inclination.
I just think that Satan does this type of scenario all the time in churches today. I pray today that we use this as an example to not just too quickly to conclusions, but also to be prepared to listen and explain without becoming defensive.