There was much reward for faithful service but the Eastern tribes wanted above all to secure their inheritance in God!
22 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh 2 and said to them, ‘You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. 3 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
The Eastern tribes had been faithful to both leaders of Israel and they had FOUGHT FOR AND WITH THEIR BROTHERS to help them take their inheritance. As in many wars the men were separated from their families for a long time.
7 … When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, 8 saying, ‘Return to your homes with your great wealth – with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing – and divide the plunder from your enemies with your fellow Israelites.’
The Eastern tribes had acquired much wealth during the many battles West of the Jordan River in the land of Canaan. Their loyalty had resulted in great reward, they weren’t returning empty handed to their own families. God sees Faithful Service and rewards everyone for their work, INCLUDING SERVICE ON BEHALF OF OTHER BELIEVERS. We may not feel that our service is noticed by others but God sees it all. At His time we will receive our just rewards, just like these tribes who’d helped their brother Israelites.
On the way back to their own lands the Eastern tribes built a replica altar at Geliloth, near the border. This almost led to war with their brothers who believed it would bring God’s judgement upon the whole nation. They sent a delegation east of the Jordan to plead with the two and a half tribes to remove the altar, but they learned that it had been built to secure the Eastern tribes inheritance as a part of Israel. Peace reigned again between the tribes across the Jordan River. The Eastern tribes foresaw that in the future a rift could come between themselves and those in the west, so they put a marker on the land to testify to their legitimate claim as one people.
9 So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.
10 When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. 11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 12 the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.
The Eastern tribes returned home with great wealth as Joshua had said, but they knew it was the God of Israel who had blessed them and wanted above all to remain as part of the people of God. Many people receive God’s blessings and forget who has blessed them, which is tragic for them.
God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.