Big Enough for Both of Us

"So we decided to build the altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a memorial. It will remind our descendants and your descendants that we, too, have the right to worship the LORD at His sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings. Then your descendants will not be able to say to ours, 'You have no claim to the LORD.' "If they say this, our descendants can reply, 'Look at this copy of the LORD's altar that our ancestors made. It is not for burnt offerings or sacrifices; it is a reminder of the relationship both of us have with the LORD.' (Joshua 22:26-28 NLT)

Have you ever watched an "old western" style of movie or show.  The good guys usually wore the white hats and the bad guys wore the black.  That's how you could tell them apart.  Somewhere in the show, you would hear the line, "This town aint big enough for the both of us."  Then there would be some kind of a showdown, usually at sunset.

The passage above is an interesting part of the story about the Israelites and the promised land.  They've finished taking the promised land, so the tribes who will live on the South-East of the Jordan River are going home.  Before crossing the river, though they build an altar.

The rest of the tribes of Israel hear this and are quite angry.  There's only one place prescribed by the LORD where we can worship Him - the tabernacle (tent) which will become later a temple (building).  Building another altar for sacrifices and worship is going directly against His instructions.  They must be stopped!

So, the tribes North of the Jordan come down with their armies, ready to destroy those who are mocking God with their actions only to find out it was a misunderstanding.  The altar, you see, was not created for sacrifices.  It was created as a reminder to both sides: the LORD IS big enough for the both of us.  Everyone in Israel is not only welcome, but called to worship the LORD.  Never forget.

It's a good thing for us to remember even today.  No matter who we meet or talk with today, God's Church is big enough for both of us.  You may not be comfortable with the idea that someone you don't like is actually welcomed, and even called, by God into His Church.  You are on His welcoming team.  Never forget.