Joshua 22-24

Joshua 22 – Transjordan Tribes Return Home

Joshua told the Eastern tribes of Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh that they had done all Moses had commanded and had obeyed Joshua in every way.  Now they could go home to be with their families.  They would not be living in the Promised Land, but living near their enemies.  He warned them to be careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses gave them.  They were to continue to walk in all the Lord’s ways, obey his commands, hold fast to him and serve Him with all their heart and soul.  Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way.  (Joshua 22:1-9) 

We live near enemies today.  They are all around us.  We need to continue to walk in God’s ways.  We need to obey His commands.  We need to hold fast and stand firm and not let the world’s ways influence us.  We are to love and serve God with all our heart, soul, and mind.  So stay on our knees and stay in the Word daily.  Go to Him in every situation, big or small.  He will fight your battles as He did for Joshua.  Remember God is always with us and will never leave.

How can you stand firm and hold fast to God and His ways?

Do you take every circumstance to Him?

Also if we want to have peace in the religious world today we must recognize God’s Word, the Bible, as the only authority for religious practices today.  We must respect God’s knowledge and always present the truth.

When the Eastern tribes came near the Jordan, they build an altar to show they still belonged to Israel and still worshipped the Lord.  Some of Western tribes didn’t understand why they built this altar.  They became angry and wanted to fight.  They thought the Eastern tribes built the altar to honor themselves and not God.  (Joshua 22:10-12)

Anger can be dangerous.  When we jump to conclusions without knowing the whole story, it can cause arguments and even wars.  We do foolish things when we are angry.  Israel’s leaders made a wise decision before they went to war.  They sent men to talk to the Eastern tribes and reminded them of their history.  But the Eastern tribes explained that the altar was built so their children would worship with the rest of Israel.  They didn’t want to rest of Israel to say in the future that they had no part with the Lord since they were on the east side of the Jordan. (Joshua 22:13-25) 

They were at peace again and decided to build another altar to be a witness for all generations that they all will worship the Lord and will offer offerings.  This pleased everyone and there was no more talk of war.  (Joshua 22:26-34) 

When have you jumped to conclusions before you knew the facts?

What was the result?                               

Principle:  Loyalty to God brings unity among His people.

Joshua 23 – Farewell and Warnings

Joshua spoke to the leaders and reminded the Israelites to recognize what God had done for them.  God was to one to fought for them and gave them the land that He promised.  He will continue to work for them and will keep all His promises.  He challenged them to be strong and to obey all that was written in the Book of the Law of Moses.  He warned them not associate with any of these nations that remained, not intermarry, and not to serve their gods.  If they did then God would no longer be with them to drive out the remainder of the nations.

He addressed the leaders, because there were too many people to address them all.  It was more practical to talk with the leaders.  Then the leaders could share with the others.  That is way it is very important to have godly leaders, because they set the examples and they lead and guide the people.

We should remember God is on our side.  He’s working for us and will keep all His promises. We too should be strong and obey God’s instructions.  We should not become friends with God’s enemies and should not worship false gods.  We should not marry non Christians.  God will not be happy and they will hurt you in the end.  Christians must be careful.  God will not forget us if we do evil things, but our evil actions will spoil our fellowship with God.  He wants us to be loyal to Him.

Principle:  Believers take God’s commands and warnings seriously

Do you take God seriously?

Do you teach your kids to do the same?

Joshua warns about having idols.  How do you identify idols?  There are many forms of idols.  We can rely on family, investments, and even church in place of God.  Anything we put our hope in other than God is idolatry.  In every generation, idols appeal to our sinful desires.  They are everything we magnify or make more of, than God created them to be.  Many things dominate our lives and can become idols.  It’s what’s in your heart.  It’s how you spend most of your time.  If it isn’t Jesus, it’s an idol.  Replacing Him with idols produces emptiness and destruction. 

Joshua 24 – Renewed Covenant and Leaders Buried

Joshua reminded the people about Abraham and what God had done in the past.  Joshua and Israelites made a covenant with God.  He again told the people what they must do.  They were to give honor to the Lord, serve Him, only do what God says, and not worship false gods.  They had a choice to make.  To serve God who brought them out of Egypt or serve other gods, the gods of Canaan.  It was their choice.  Joshua and his family chose to serve only the Lord.

Joshua knew their history and all their disobedience.  Israel is still struggling today to get their land back.  Joshua knows his failures.  God is forgiving, but not to be served lightly.  We have a choice, too.  We can sever God or the false gods of ambition, entertainment, career, etc.  All these false gods can stop us from serving the real God.  Joshua said, “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15

The people promised the serve the Lord because it He brought them out of Egypt and saved them from slavery.  We must serve and worship God, because of has freed us from our sin.  He sent Jesus to die on the cross for us.  That is why we must worship only Him.

Joshua says that God is a jealous God.  What does that mean?  Jealousy is like a man married to his wife.  When she has an affair, He is grieved.  That is like the Lord married to the church.  When we take His name in vain and worship other gods He has the right to be jealous.  He wants our loyalty.  He wants our undivided love and attention.

What in your life cause God to be jealous?  Our time and possessions belong to God.  When we think it is our own, it causes pride, selfishness and ingratitude.  He created us and intended for us to spend eternity with Him.  His jealous love is unfailing and ending.

At the end of the chapter we see the death of Joshua and Caleb.  Joshua had been a great leader.  He had great faith and knew God would keep all His promises.  He was a living, historic picture of Jesus as he called God’s people to obedience, dealt with their sin and led them into the promised land to receive their full inheritance.  God urges us all be like Joshua.  “Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

Principle:  Our choices reflect what we truly value.

Next week we will study Ruth.  See you here.

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