May 20, 2026

Joshua 22: 28 (NIV)

“And we said, ‘If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the Lord’s altar, which our fathers built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’” [Read verses 10-34 for the complete story.]

Human nature is fond of climbing up into the judgment seat and proclaiming its decisions, without hearing both sides or calling witnesses.*

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had built a monument which the other tribes thought was an altar. They were all righteously indignant because erecting altars was the priests’ job. Verse 12 of chapter 22 says that the “whole assembly” of the other tribes gathered to go to war against the supposed violators of God’s law. Imagine their chagrin when they learned that the purpose of the structure was to commemorate the tribes’ unity with each other and to remind their descendants to fear God.

If jumping to conclusions or rushing to judgment actually burned calories, we would be very fit people. Case in point: my friend was making lots of money until the economy crashed and suddenly she had no income. Some people were critical when they learned that she had applied for food stamps and asked the church to help with mortgage payments because they saw that she was still driving around in her high-end SUV. What they didn’t know (and what was really none of their business) was that she had paid cash for the vehicle back when her financial situation was good, but no one else wanted to buy the gas-guzzler now that she couldn't afford to fill the tank. (What "they" also didn't know was how generous she had been to the church and to people in need before she lost her income.)

We should be less eager to believe the worst of others. Yes, people lie, cheat, and betray - but not all people all the time. What would it cost you to give someone the benefit of the doubt, to trust that their intentions are good? If someone’s behavior appears to be out of character, perhaps you don’t know the whole story. Would you want to be judged and condemned upon incomplete evidence? How can we call ourselves followers of Jesus when we ignore his command to do to others as we would have them do to us (Matthew 7: 12)?

Some Christians delight in finding what is false, while never searching for an ounce of gospel.*