In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln’s Treasury Secretary stamped the words “In God we trust” on coins and paper money for the first time. It reflected the faith of our government in God’s sovereignty.

In 1956 President Eisenhower proposed “In God we trust” as our national motto and the 84^th Congress passed it unanimously in both houses. The Cold War was on and institutionalizing that phrase showed the world that the USA was not like atheistic, communist Russia.

The use of “In God we trust” in the US has grown every decade. The words have moved from our coins to the entrances of public buildings, onto the doors of emergency vehicles, and into the hallways of schools. In 2003 90% of Americans were in favor of keeping the phrase as our national motto.

When Joshua asked ancient Israel what their focus was going to be as a new nation they replied “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.” It was a soaring aspiration for their new nation.

Peace at Last

Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh fought valiantly alongside the other nine and a half tribes during the wars in Canaan. Joshua commended them for their excellent service and thanked them for staying the course.

“You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded you. For a long time now – to this very day – you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you.” Joshua 22:1-3

The eastern tribes had become wealthy with the spoils of war and they had livestock, gold, silver, bronze, iron, and quantities of clothing to take home. They said a joyful farewell to their comrades and headed east to cross the Jordan River and live in peace at last.

A Controversial Altar

The Reubenites, Gadites and Manassehites journeyed to the west bank of the Jordan River, just north of where Jericho had stood, and decided to build an imposing replica of the Lord’s altar there. They thought it was a good way to help Israel remember that the eastern tribes belonged to God just as much as the tribes who lived in Canaan.

But their fellow tribes didn’t see it that way.

“When the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan . . . the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.” Joshua 22:11-12

Israel had just spent years getting rid of idols and driving out people who worshiped false gods in Canaan. They remembered the 24,000 Israelites who died by plague at Beth Peor when Midianites enticed them into idolatry. They couldn’t tolerate some of their own people establishing a new false religion.

They planned to deal with their brother tribes the same way they dealt with the Canaanites. But, fortunately, wiser minds prevailed and they decided to make an inquiry before they took action.

Israel Becomes Alarmed

The Israelites decided to send Phineas the priest, along with one leader from each of the ten tribes, to investigate the altar the eastern tribes had built. Phineas had stopped the plague in Beth Peor by plunging his spear through the bodies of an Israelite man and his Midianite lover (Numbers 25:6-13). God commended him for his wisdom and courage.

The army of the two and a half tribes had already arrived at their homes, but they were called back together in Gilead to meet with the eleven visiting officials. They told the tribes exactly what they were concerned about.

“The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now?’” Joshua 22:16

The eastern tribes were alarmed by this accusation. They weren’t turning away from God! They cried out,

“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 . . . may the Lord himself call us to account. No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? . . . your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord . . . 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 ancestors built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’” Joshua 22:22-28

A Model for Resolving Conflict

Phineas and the leaders of Israel were very relieved by what the eastern tribes told them.

 “Today we know that the Lord is with us, because you have not been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand.” Joshua 22:31

The delegation returned home to Canaan with the news that there was no need for war.

“They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.” Joshua 22:33

Israel modeled how to resolve conflict. They went and stated their concerns, they asked questions, and listened to the answers. When they had the whole story, they returned home and calmed the fears of others. Instead of an object of fear, the altar became “A Witness Between Us – that the Lord is God.” Joshua 22:34

Joshua’s Final Words

Joshua had invested his whole life in serving God in Israel and he fervently hoped that they would remain true to the Lord when he was gone.’’

“Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. 

But just as all the good things the Lord your God has promised you have come to you, so he will bring on you all the evil things he has threatened, until the Lord your God has destroyed you from this good land he has given you. 

If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.” Joshua 23:14-16

A Test for Israel

The Israelites professed devotion to God, but Joshua challenged their resolve.

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

“Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! . . . We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.’” Joshua 24:16-18

Joshua knew his people very well, so he challenged them one more time.

“Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.’

But the people said to Joshua, ‘No! We will serve the Lord.’

Then Joshua said, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.

‘Yes, we are witnesses,’ they replied.” Joshua 24:19-22

Finally Joshua confronted the hidden sin among the Israelites that made him doubt their commitment to God.

“Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” Joshua 24:23

The people promised, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.” Joshua 24:24

So Joshua set up a large stone near the holy place of the Lord and told Israel,

“This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.” Joshua 24:27

Deaths and Burials

Joshua died when he was 110 years old. He was buried at Timnath, the town he had chosen for himself in Canaan. As long as the memory of Joshua and the elders who outlived him was still strong, Israel served the Lord.

After traveling with Israel for so many decades, Joseph’s bones were finally laid to rest on the piece of land his father Jacob gave him in Shechem. Aaron’s son Eleazar, the last high priest who served with Moses died and was buried at Gibeah in Benjamin. The first era in the life of Israel passed into history.

Tomorrow we will begin reading the book of Judges. Then we’ll see how well the Israelites keep their promises to serve and obey God.