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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Joshua 23-24

Last week we saw how Joshua divided the Promised Land according to how the Lord commanded.  This week we see the death of Joshua, but before his death he encouraged Israel to have strength and courage and to continue to serve only God. 

Joshua 23 – Joshua’s Farewell

We don’t know how much time had passed.  It may have been many years, but we know that Israel lived in peace.  The Lord gave Israel a time of rest from all their battles and now Joshua was well advance in his years.  Joshua summoned all the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel and reminded them of all they had seen God do for them.  It was the Lord who fought for them in conquering the land.  The Lord will dive out the remaining nations and they will again take possession. (Joshua 23:1-5)

We as Christians should remember all God has done for us.  Sometimes we get wrapped up in our circumstances and fail to see God working.  As I think back over my life I can see now when I couldn’t see then, He was there.  He was with me when I thought no one else was or could understand.  He was there when I made those wrong decisions bringing me through them as I learned and grew from them. 

I was in a Bible study several years ago and our group was asked to section off our life in increments of ten year periods.  Then write down each event that happened to us during those times – school, job, marriage, birth of a child, divorce, etc.  When I did that, I could see how God was there guiding me and how I matured in my faith.  It showed me how I got to where I am today and how God was with me in each event.  He is and has always been on my side as He is on yours.  He is working and fighting for us and He always keeps His promises.

When in your past, have you seen God working in your life?

Did you recognize God in your circumstance?

How did you grow in that circumstance?

Joshua told them to be very strong and careful to obey the Book of the Law of Moses.  He reminded them to not associate with these nations and worship their gods.  They are to hold fast to God.  The Lord made Israel into a powerful nation.  He fought for them as He promised.   So they are to love Him and Him alone.  (Joshua 23:6-11)

BUT – if Israel associates with the survivors of these remaining nations and if they intermarry with them, God will no longer drive them out.  These nations will become snares and traps for Israel.  Israel will lose the land.  (Joshua 23:12-13) 

We can follow the world or we can follow God.  That is the only option you have.  Who do you follow?  We need to hold to the ways of God.  Being with other Christians, going to church, praying, and doing Bible studies are all important.  If we listen to God, we will not listen to the world.  We need to be obedient.  Disobedience does not bring blessings.  We have a choice.  Anytime you obey God’s Word you will be blessed and will also bring blessings to others.

Joshua reminded them that all the Lord’s promises had been fulfilled and none had failed.  Just as the good promises were fulfilled so will the evil He threatened.  If Israel violates the covenant with God and serves other gods, the Lord’s anger will burn against them and they will quickly perish from the land He has given them.  (Joshua 23:14-16)

Christians must be careful, too.  We must be strong and careful to obey God’s commands.  God will not forget us if we sin, but it will spoil our fellowship with Him and cause us trouble.

What will be your last words?

Will they be words of encouragement?

Do you encourage others to keep God’s commands?

Principle:  God’s promises never fail.

Joshua 24:1-27 – Covenant Renewed

Joshua assembled all of Israel and reminded them of what the Lord had done for them.  He charged them to fear and serve the Lord.  The people agreed that they would serve Him.  Joshua told them that God is holy and jealous and will not forgive them if they rebel or if they serve other gods.  The people again said, “No!  We will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:21.  Joshua said they would be witnesses for themselves that they had chosen to serve.

On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people and recorded it in the Book of Law of God.  Then he took a large stone and set it under a tree near the holy place of the Lord.  “This stone will be witness against us.” – Joshua 24:27.  This is like signing an agreement to keep the Law of Moses and the stone was the seal of the agreement.

The Israelites chose to serve God.  We have a choice, too.  We can serve God or other gods.    What is the #1 thing you give most of your attention?   Where we spend most of our time, money and energy is worship.  It becomes our god or idol.   The other gods that we sometime serve are our families, sports, entertainment, money, our job, shopping, and even false prophets.  If we focus on these things more and put them before God, that’s idolatry.  We take a good thing and make it an idol.

What are your idols that compete with God? 

Where or who does your approval come from? 

What do you long for or desire? 

Exodus 20:3-5a – “You shall have no other gods before me.  You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them…”

We must serve and worship the one true and living God.  He freed us from sin by sending His Son, Jesus to die on the cross for us.  Jesus bought us with His blood.  We belong to Him.  That is why we should and must worship Him on Him alone.

What false gods are you seeking instead of the one true God?

What consumes your thoughts, time, energy and emotions?

Is it God Himself, or is it some idol which leaves you with nothing to give to the Lord?

Principle:  God wants us to serve Him and Him alone.

Note:  See my older post “What is Worship” 

http://devotionsbylv.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-is-worship.html

Joshua 24:28-33 – Joshua’s Death

Joshua died at 110 years of age.  Three people were buried.  Joshua was buried in the land of his inheritance.  Joseph’s bones that were brought up from Egypt were buried in the land Jacob bought, which was the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants.  Eleazar, Aaron’s son died and was buried also. (Joshua 24:29-33)

Israel served God throughout Joshua’s lifetime.  Joshua was a great leader of great faith.  He feared God, believed God, obeyed God, and glorified God.  He knew God would keep His promises.  He was only concerned with doing the will of God.  He tried to do the commands of God to the fullest.  Joshua died, but the God of Joshua is still alive.  Joshua like Moses and Aaron was buried on a mountain.  We are all to be like Joshua.  “Be strong and do not be afraid.  Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you do.  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from our mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you?  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 1:7-9.

Do you fear God, believe God, obey God, and glorify God?

Do expect God to keep His promises?

What legacy will you leave behind?

Will others say you were of great faith?

Joshua was by Moses’ side since his youth.  He was appointed Israel’s leader when Moses died.  He was a warrior for God.  He was gifted with leadership.  God confirmed his position with the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River.  At the end of his life he encouraged Israel to choose God over all else.  He did everything that God commanded.  Under his leadership, “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled”. – Joshua 21:45. 

Joshua was told 7 times to “be strong and courageous”.  All of the battles were won in the Lord’s strength and not by the hands of men.  If we choose to fight our battles in our own strength and power, we will lose.  But if we choose to recognize how God gives us power, we will win.  “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty” – Zech. 4:6.  Through prayer the Spirit will destroy evil influences in our lives.

How devoted to prayer are you in fighting the enemy?

Do you try to fight your own battles?

Do you turn to God only as the last resort?

How do you recognize God’s power in you?

Principle:  We must choose to recognize God’s power and strength in our battles with the enemy.

God continued to be with Israel in their future battles.  God continues to be with us.  We just need to listen, trust, and obey His commands.  We need to be strong and courageous like Joshua.  You can see the next chapter of the Israelites in the book of Judges. 

I hope you have enjoyed this study and have learned many lessons from it.  I know I have.  This book of Joshua gives us insights into God’s character and nature:

God is Creator – His creation is subject to His sovereign control.  He stopped the Jordan so Israel could cross, He shattered the walls of Jericho, He sent hail from heaven to destroy the enemy, and He lengthened the hours of a day.

God is faithful – He led Joshua and Israel to the Promised Land fulfilling His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  He gave each tribe their inheritance leaving no one out.  He even allowed Joseph’s bones to rest in the Promised Land as promised.

God hates sin – He waged war against the wicked Canaanites and anyone who sinned in Israel.

God is our eternal leader – He appointed Moses and Joshua to serve Israel.  He is our Great Leader.

Jesus is revealed – Joshua’s names means “Lord is my Savior” or “Jehovah is Savior” which points to Christ as the Captain of our salvation leading His people by the power of the Holy Spirit.

For the rest of the summer I will not be posting on a specific book of the Bible, but on several different topics.  Next week we will talk about “How to Study the Bible”.  See you next week.  Until then, “be strong and courageous”. 

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