Today’s Reading Joshua 22-24
Focal Scriptures: Joshua 22:26-28 “Therefore we said: Let’s take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offering or sacrifice. Instead, it is to be a witness between us and you, and between the generations after us, so that we may carry out the worship of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and fellowship offerings. Then in the future, your descendants will not be able to say to our descendants, ‘You have no share in the Lord!’ We thought that if they said this to us or to our generations in the future, we would reply: Look at the replica of the Lord’s altar that our ancestors made, not for burnt offering or sacrifice, but as a witness between us and you.”
Being misunderstood is a major problem. Here we see an example of people thinking they are justified to be upset because of a potential violation of God’s law. However, when the reaction was over and investigation took place it was apparent that the decision to build an altar came from a pure heart and motives.
When the altar was seen at first the assumption was that the people went rogue. They defied explicit instructions and decided to dishonor God and the priests. Thankfully, in a demonstration of good leadership the priests listened and were satisfied by the explanation. They heard the heart behind the decision and did not take their actions personal or as an affront to their leadership.
There is so much to learn from these scriptures. First, making emotional decisions and assumptions about people’s choices can be dangerous. The priests were initially concerned and rightfully so but then they stopped and listened. Good leadership always listens first and then responds. By doing this you demonstrate humility.
Next, most people make decisions out of pure motives. Leadership that understands this principle helps others succeed because they know even if they disagree the intent is not negative. The clans here made a decision on their own and it was misunderstood. What if the priests decided to kill these people or remove them altogether without seeing the heart behind their choices. It would have been disastrous and many lives would have been changed forever.
The takeaway from these passages is to listen and gather facts before you react and make rash decisions. This principle will help you in every relationship. It will bring peace when your kids make decisions you don’t understand or agree with. It will help you with your spouse when there is a disagreement about choices in the house. These are just a few examples.
I have noticed over the years that many people have their spirit shattered when others assume the worst behind the choices they make. This is most evident with children. Rarely does a teenager set out to disappoint their parent with a decision. However, I have often seen when a parent assumes the worst from their teenager they eventually teach that young person they can’t do anything right.
Good leaders listen first then respond second.
Tomorrow I plan on reading Judges 1-2
