The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 22:22,
"The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day."
Following the taking of the Promised Land by all twelve tribes, Joshua dismissed the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh to return to the eastern side of the Jordan River where they had been given land by Moses. The remaining tribes had their inheritance of land on the west side.
As the two and a half tribes left to go home, they built an "imposing" altar (verse 10) just before crossing the Jordan, at Geliloth. Upon hearing about it, the remaining tribes took it to be an act of rebellion against the altar Moses had built that was at Shiloh at the time. Fearing the Lord's retribution against the whole nation for it, they confronted Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh at Geliloth and expressed their outrage at it.
The two and a half tribes responded by saying their intentions in building this altar had nothing to do with a desire to abandon the altar of the Lord Moses had built. Their purpose was just the opposite, to create a monument for succeeding generations, a reminder that although the Jordan separated the tribes, the remaining tribes would not cut off Reuben, Gad and half Manasseh and claim they had no share in the Lord.
In insisting upon their innocence in the matter they called on God as a witness. As they did they repeated a three-fold name for God and repeated it twice to express their deeply felt feelings. "The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord!" is translated from El Elohim YHWH. The NIV First-Century Study Bible points out, "This three-word phrase could also be translated "God of gods, Yahweh" or "God, God, the Lord." This was probably some kind of sacred phrase, for it was used here in the context of a solemn oath. In any case, Elohim and YHWH, the two most important names for God, are used in a single phrase."
There is only one other time in Scripture we find this three-fold name in calling upon God. In Psalm 50:1 we read, "The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets." In that psalm seven names and titles for God are found. Can you find the other ones?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day."
Following the taking of the Promised Land by all twelve tribes, Joshua dismissed the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh to return to the eastern side of the Jordan River where they had been given land by Moses. The remaining tribes had their inheritance of land on the west side.
As the two and a half tribes left to go home, they built an "imposing" altar (verse 10) just before crossing the Jordan, at Geliloth. Upon hearing about it, the remaining tribes took it to be an act of rebellion against the altar Moses had built that was at Shiloh at the time. Fearing the Lord's retribution against the whole nation for it, they confronted Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh at Geliloth and expressed their outrage at it.
The two and a half tribes responded by saying their intentions in building this altar had nothing to do with a desire to abandon the altar of the Lord Moses had built. Their purpose was just the opposite, to create a monument for succeeding generations, a reminder that although the Jordan separated the tribes, the remaining tribes would not cut off Reuben, Gad and half Manasseh and claim they had no share in the Lord.
In insisting upon their innocence in the matter they called on God as a witness. As they did they repeated a three-fold name for God and repeated it twice to express their deeply felt feelings. "The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord!" is translated from El Elohim YHWH. The NIV First-Century Study Bible points out, "This three-word phrase could also be translated "God of gods, Yahweh" or "God, God, the Lord." This was probably some kind of sacred phrase, for it was used here in the context of a solemn oath. In any case, Elohim and YHWH, the two most important names for God, are used in a single phrase."
There is only one other time in Scripture we find this three-fold name in calling upon God. In Psalm 50:1 we read, "The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets." In that psalm seven names and titles for God are found. Can you find the other ones?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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