Did you ever attribute motives to someone based on their actions? Were you correct about their motivation? I read more than one Christian book that told me why I voted the way I did in 2016. The books were wrong.

And so were the majority of Israelites in Joshua 22.

Remember the tribes who wanted to stay on the east side of the Jordan River? “This land is good for cattle, and we have cattle!” But Moses was stern:

But Moses said to the people of Gad and to the people of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here? (Numbers 32.6, ESV)

And so those tribes promised:

Then they came near to him and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, but we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance.” (Numbers 32.16 – 18, ESV)

And they did. And Joshua blesses them to return home:

Then Joshua called together the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He said: “You have carried out everything Moses the servant of GOD commanded you, and you have obediently done everything I have commanded you…And now GOD, your God, has given rest to your brothers just as he promised them. You’re now free to go back to your homes, the country of your inheritance that Moses the servant of GOD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. Only this: Be vigilant in keeping the Commandment and The Revelation that Moses the servant of GOD laid on you: Love GOD, your God, walk in all his ways, do what he’s commanded, embrace him, serve him with everything you are and have.” (Joshua 22.1 – 5, MSG)

So the tribes go back and here’s their first action:

They arrived at Geliloth on the Jordan (touching on Canaanite land). There the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar on the banks of the Jordan—a huge altar!

They build an altar, and the rest of the tribes go ballistic:

The People of Israel heard of it: “What’s this? The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar facing the land of Canaan at Geliloth on the Jordan, across from the People of Israel!” When the People of Israel heard this, the entire congregation mustered at Shiloh to go to war against them. They sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest…”The entire congregation of GOD wants to know: What is this violation against the God of Israel that you have committed, turning your back on GOD and building your own altar—a blatant act of rebellion against GOD? (Joshua 22.11 – 16, MSG)

The western tribes’ conclusion? “…turning your back on God and building your own altar—a blatant act of rebellion.”

But…a misunderstanding. The eastern tribes’ motive was not rebellion:

So we said to ourselves, “Let’s do something. Let’s build an altar—but not for Whole-Burnt-Offerings, not for sacrifices.” We built this altar as a witness between us and you and our children coming after us, a witness to the Altar where we worship GOD in his Sacred Dwelling with our Whole-Burnt-Offerings and our sacrifices and our Peace-Offerings. This way, your children won’t be able to say to our children in the future, “You have no part in GOD.”’ (Joshua 22.26 – 27, MSG)

Not an altar for sacrifice, but a witness. Maybe we could say a memorial.

Reuben and Gad named the altar: A Witness Between Us. GOD Alone Is God. (Joshua 22.34, MSG)

Can we be charitable even if we don’t agree? I heard a talk show host, referring to a political party with whom she vehemently disagrees, say, “I teach my daughter that they are well-intentioned people who are wrong about nearly everything.”

That’s fair. “Well-intentioned people…” That’s more than the western tribes were giving their brothers across the river.

He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. (Proverbs 18.13, NKJV)