Return Home

 

    Everyone has left home for some reason or another: long vacation, study abroad, college, marriage, work, war, or some other reason.  It may be nice to return, but things are never the same.  You have changed and the people you left behind have changed.  The one constant in the world is change and it takes a little work to readjust.  It starts with readjusting your expectations.  Don't expect things to just go back to the way they were or you will be sorely disappointed.

    The promised land had been taken.  It had been many years since some of them had seen their families when Joshua released them to go home.  When the Reubinites, Gadites, and half Manasseh tribe crossed the Jordan River, Joshua reminded them to love God, walk in His ways in obedience, and hold fast to serving Him with all their heart and soul.

    They took that to heart and built an altar as a reminder for everyone.  It was misunderstood by the rest of the Hebrew Nation.  They took it as an act of rebellion against God and prepared for war.  The other Hebrews could not risk God releasing His anger on all of them.  They had every intention of taking care of the situation rapidly and severely.  

    This is an example of returning home.  When you are not in constant communication, then misunderstandings easily occur.  They had to rush to explain that they did it as an unifying act, not rebellion.  The intent was not division.  It was meant to be a standing witness to last over time to represent all they had been through.  

    Once the other Hebrews understood they began to appreciate the altar.  It was named "A Witness Between Us that the Lord is God".  The point is when you return home, do something to signify that God is the focus and use that to reestablish the relationships.  It takes communication and understanding on both sides.

Joshua 22