March 29: Joshua 22-24

March 29, Joshua 22-24

I know I say it every time, but Congratulations on finishing another book of the Bible! We learned that Joshua brought the Israelites into the Promised Land and how God did it for them as Divine Warrior. We have seen how a loving God provides for His people and wants us to follow Him Faithfully…

Joshua 22 Since God has given rest now to the Israelites, the tribes that were going to settle on the other side of the Jordan were able to go home, as promised from God. Before they left, Joshua cautioned them to be very careful to observe all that the Lord commanded them, and to cling to him. Joshua blessed them and sent them away.

When the tribes that left came to their land, they built a massive altar by the Jordan river. When the other Israelites heard about it, they became nervous about it and planned to make war against them (their own people). So, they sent some people to go confront the 3 tribes because it seemed that they were putting up an altar in rebellion against God, they wanted to make sure that they were following the Lord. They feared that their brothers were acting as pagans, erecting their own alters near the Canaanites, and they wanted to make sure they were not bending the way spiritually of the way of the Canaanites. If that was true, God’s anger would go against all of them, as they are a corporate nation - as they knew that they all would suffer for the sins of some or even one of their Israelite brothers. We learn from the Israelites that good brothers confront the issue, and find out the truth of the event and what is the real reason they are building an alter. So they journey to them, to see what is the real reason for the alter. What was the real reason that they put up the altar? So that the next generation of kids from the Promised Land would know that they too are Israelites. The Israelites were relieved to hear it and it became a visible monument between them, a witness between them and God. 

Joshua 23 - Remember what God has done! A long time after (ballpark 25 years later), Joshua called together all the elders and leaders and reminded them of all that God had done for them. God has taken care of them and fulfilled His promises, and He will continue to do so, but they have to be strong and do what God has called them to. Joshua wants them, not to fall prey to the Canaanites that they didn't drive out and seek after their gods - Joshua wants to make sure that they don't even mention the names of their pagan neighbors gods. Also not to intermarry with them. If they serve other gods, God’s wrath will come down on them like a fierce force. 

Joshua 24 is the last chapter of Joshua and it serves as a warning and a covenant renewal between them and God. Joshua gathers everyone together and speaks the words of God, given to him by the Almighty. God speaks to His people about how He has gotten them all their. And He gives a brief paraphrase of what He has done, and how He managed to get the Israelites where they were that day. 

Then we have a famous Christian verse that has appeared on quite a few bumper stickers, ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ Now look at it contextually and it isn't about choosing Christ as your personal Savior as much as it is about the fact that those that have chosen to follow the Lord, will show it by action. And most importantly, they will keep God as their only God, and have nothing to do with other gods. As Joshua was more concerned that they must not say they are following the Lord and then whore after the other gods. Joshua was telling them, that they must choose which way they were to act, either with Yahweh or against Yahweh. Joshua was pushing the people to faithfully serve the Lord, but in the heart, mind, soul, and in body. To serve the Lord in word and deed, in action and by showing it in their everyday lives… The Israelites unanimously answered that they would serve the Lord and so they made a covenant with God that day that this is what they would do. If they did not keep to it, they acknowledged that God would be against them for not keeping their promise to the Almighty. 

Joshua dies at 110 years old and they buried him in his land. Please note here - when Joshua was there and all his elders were alive, the nation of Israel served God. This is getting us ready for the disobedience that is coming in the next book, Judges…

But until that was to happen, the Israelites were given rest on every side because they followed the Lord…

To sum it all up:

• We learn from the Israelites that good brothers confront the issue, and find out the truth of the event. Is there something you have heard or know about and should confront in love?
• We are to cling to God. Have you ever had a piece of lint cling to you? Or some piece of clothing stuck to you because of static? Have you ever had cat or dog hair stuck all over your pants or jacket? It is actually pretty tough to get it off of your clothes without tugging on it. Well, we are supposed to cling to God. We know that Satan will try to tug us away, so don’t let him!
• Is your house obeying and bowing only to God? Will you take a stand and get rid of everything that draws you away from Christ?
• We, like the Israelites, need to be continually reminding ourselves and each other about what God has done in our lives. We should not doubt His Providence or Guidance, as He has always taken care of us. Make an effort to be reminded how God has taken care of you.