4.21.8 "Suspicion is Not a Spiritual Gift"

"Suspicion is Not a Spiritual Gift"

Joshua 22:21-23:16
Luke 20:27-47
Psalm 89:14-37
Proverbs 13:17-19

I don't know if you've ever noticed this or not, but there is an interesting "quirk" to the human nature. I believe everyone should understand that my motives are pure, and that my heart is clean, and that I "mean well" in everything. However, it's in my nature when i look at the actions of others, I presume the worst. We have thoughts like, "They're out to get me", "their actions are sinful & selfish". We want people to assume the best about us, and yet we often presume the worst about them. We're certain that our motives are "pure", but we're suspicious of others. Sometimes we live like suspicion is a spiritual gift.

One of my favorite Bible stories is a somewhat obscure one. It's the story of the tribes of Reuben and Gad. These people have a couple of times in their journey when they are GREATLY misunderstood. The first part of the story is in Numbers 32 and the culmination is in Joshua 22. I'll give you a quick synopsis: The Israelites have entered the Promised Land from the east. There is great pasture land on the east side of the Jordan and tribes of Reuben & Gad have sheep. They ask Moses for that land for their tribes & their flocks. Moses, having recently had a bunch of people rise up against him in rebellion, goes off on them. He thinks they are lazy & trying to take the easy way out by not crossing over the Jordan and conquering all of the territory.

That's not the case. The tribes just want to leave their sheep & families there. They vow to fight ahead of all of the other tribes and go to the extra mile to conquer the land. Moses agrees, and they fight on. Years later, Joshua, like we read yesterday, thanks Reuben & Gad for all of their help, and blesses them and sends them back across the Jordan.

"Before they went across, while they were still in Canaan, they built a large monument for everyone to see, in the shape of an altar. But when the rest of Israel heard about what they had done, they mustered an army at Shiloh and prepared to go to war against their brother tribes." (Jos 22:10-11)

Before attacking, they send a delegation led by Phineas to speak to the tribes. "The whole congregation of the Lord demands to know why you are sinning against the God of Israel by turning away from him and building an altar of rebellion against the Lord." (22:16) They spend a few more verses giving Rueben and Gad a piece of their mind.

As it turns out, the motives of Reuben and Gad had been completely misread. "We have done it because we love the Lord... It is not for burnt offerings or sacrifices but is a symbol of the relationship with God that both of us have. Far be it from us to turn away from the Lord or to rebel against him by building our own altar.." (22:24,28-29)

Phineas is relieved. "Today we know that the Lord is among us because you have not sinned against the Lord as we thought; instead, you have saved us from destruction!" (22:30)

So how does this apply to us? First off, we have been commissioned to disciple one another, which really means that we need to be a friend to one another. As we have discussed in the past, the root word of discipleship is discipline, which means to bring into alignment. We need to bring one another into alignment with God's word. Sometimes, we get a little out of focus by over-reacting to the actions of others. We are offended when someone looks at us the wrong way, or maybe they say something that to us is totally out of whack.

When that happens, our flesh "because we care" musters the troops and is ready to go to war against someone because we are sure they are in the wrong. We want to talk to a few people, press charges, and bring someone to trial for this action.

Thankfully, the troops of Israel sent a delegation to talk to Reuben and Gad. As Phineas said, were they to have attacked and gone to battle with them, it would have been an ungodly war.

There are some in the body of Christ who live as if suspicion is a spiritual gift. They unwrap that gift at the slightest offense. They will often "muster the troops" under the disguise of a prayer request. "Please pray for Sally, She's really struggling in her spiritual walk. She was bossy to me at the bake sale!"

So many times the Lord allows these frustrations and conflicts to arise in the Body of Christ to bring us closer together. Look at the unity that was among all the tribes when all was said and done. "and all Israel rejoiced and praised God and spoke no more of war..." (22:33)

We need to stop looking at offenses through the eyes of suspicion and stop speaking of war. We need to understand our purpose is to build up the body of Christ and not to tear it down. We're not here to eradicate everyone who doesn't align with "my way" of doing things, we're here to work together so we can all walk in alignment with God's way of doing things.

This is what Relationships Devoted to Unity is all about!


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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