Joshua 24:29-33 – Leaving a legacy

The closing verses of this book briefly tell us about the burials of Joshua, Joseph, and Eleazar, the priest. Verses 29-30 tell us that Joshua lived to a ripe old age. At 110 years old he died and was buried “in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-Serah, in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of Mount Gaash.” Joseph’s burial ground was located in Shechem, the piece of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Remember before Joseph died, he left words for the children of Israel to carry his bones out when they left Egypt. He knew the Lord would bring them into the promised land and he wanted to be buried there. So, his bones travelled with the children of Israel through the journey. Verse 32 tells us that he was finally laid to rest in Shechem. Eleazer, the priest, was buried at Gibeah in the hill country of Ephraim, in the land which Phinehas his son was given.

Briefly, verse 31 tells us the impact Joshua made. It says “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of the Lord which He had done for Israel.” In other words, Joshua had lived such an influential life, leaving a godly example to those he led into Canaan, that even after he was gone, the influence he left behind impacted the people. This verse said that the people continued to serve the Lord through the days of the elders who survived Joshua. They were described as having known the deeds that the Lord had done for Israel. We can safely surmise that he left a rich legacy behind.

What we are not told was the inscriptions found on their tombstones. But we all know three epitaphs that can definitely be seen on every modern tombstone today: the date of birth of a deceased, the date he or she died and a hyphen ‘–’ in between. The hyphen is just a short dash that tells nothing, but it represents the most critical period of one’s life. It represents the activities that had taken place while the person was still alive. Joshua did much, “the dash” on his tombstone had spoken volumes. And so, did Joseph and Eleazar. Before our lives fade into oblivion and the activities of our lives are represented by just a dash, we must do something now. We can determine what the dash on our tombstone will signify by making our life count for the Lord.   

Ever thought of what will happen to the people who matter to us, when you depart from this earth? Will they continue to serve the Lord and experience His goodness all the days of their life? What sort of legacy are we leaving behind? To make an impact, let us live and love the best way we know how. We must also learn as much as we can, then let us leave a rich legacy behind like Joshua did. 

Joshua 24:16-28 – Living a life of consecration

Being discerning and completely apprised of one’s situation is so needful. Why? It’s because it will help us to make the right decision and then to move in the right direction in life. Joshua had ably painted for the Israelites their whole journey so far and how God had helped them to arrive at where they were. Here in these closing verses, Joshua could sense that the critical moment had arrived. He knew that it was the time to call for a response. It was the right time for the people to consecrate themselves. So, right there at Shechem, he issued a very compelling challenge in those closing moments.  The people, on the other hand, could also sense that it was time they should consecrate themselves to the Lord. So, in verses 16-28, they heartily responded to the call and swore their allegiance to God.

To hear something needful is important, but it is more important to understand it and know its implication. This is what happened to the people of Israel at this point. They had heard attentively all that Joshua had said and could understand the drift of his message. They could see how foolish it would be to serve other gods when the one and only true God had been so gracious to them. It would be incredulous if they still chose to serve other gods after all the things God had done for them. Seeing that it was the goodness of God that had brought them to where they were, they then voiced their resolve in verses 16-18. In one unison voice, they declared their allegiance to God. Is the Lord our choice today? If we have not automatically given Him our time, our talent, our love, and attention, and our all, then our allegiance to Him will be called into question. Where is God in the priority of our life?  

In Joshua 24:19-23. Joshua waived into his challenge a reminder of the righteousness and holiness of God. It was to this holy and righteous God that they had sworn their allegiance. He knew that knowing the true nature of God would help them to stay true to their commitment and allegiance. He told them that if they served Him with integrity, He would bless them. The opposite would also be just as true. If they renege and turn to worship and serve other gods, they would have to pay an inexplicable price. Precisely, because God is holy and righteous, such that He will not tolerate our sin and irresponsible living. Disobedience has consequences. Remember what the Apostle Paul has reminded us in Galatians 6:7? If we sow to the wind, we will reap a whirlwind. But if we sow to God, we will reap holiness and righteousness. We always reap what we sow.

To help them remember their resolution, Joshua set up a memorial. It was a kind of monument that would be a constant reminder to them of the commitment and pledge they had made to God. Why have a monument in life? It is something to hold us accountable. A monument will also keep us in check should we stray from the pledge that we have made to God. It is good to keep some kinds of memento to remind us of the promise we have made to God. Ever thought of having an accountability partner? Someone who will keep us in check and ensure that we do not stray from our commitment. Being in a small group of trusted people is a good way to stay accountable. We all need trusted companions on our divine journey who will hold us accountable to God. Find an accountability group or a partner today! You will definitely be helped.   

Joshua 24:14-15 - Following God demands a price

There can be no neutral ground when it comes to serving God. One is to serve Him wholehearted. And Joshua knew that well. We are to serve God with our all. There are three clear pieces of evidence that will show that we are total with and for God. Joshua 24:14 shows us that there must be the element of reverential fear. Then there must be a willingness to put away everything that hinders our total allegiance to Him. Finally, there must be a willingness to serve Him with sincerity and honesty.

In the previous verses, Joshua had shown the children of Israel all the privileges that God had accorded to them. It was He who had initiated the move to make them His people and protected them all the way with His power. Besides, He had granted them the favor of His presence and also met all their essential needs with his untold provisions. In the light of all that God had done for them, the only appropriate response ought to be a wholesome honor of the Lord. It is a healthy respect for God that brings about a deep reverential fear for Him. This kind of fear is not the same as the trepidation that a person has in anticipation of punishment. It is the desire that one has for not wanting to break the heart of God or do anything that would offend Him. When we have a proper and correct view of God, we will intuitively respect Him. Reverential fear is the natural consequence of our experiential knowledge of God. The fear we have for God will result in our willingness to serve Him.

To revere God rightly and serve Him honourably, there is a need to put away any hindrance that can come between our relationship with Him. For the people of Israel, they must put away the pagan gods of their ancestors. They must also put away the idols that they had adopted while in bondage in Egypt. For us, it is those things that we devotedly embraced before we give our life to the Lord Jesus Christ. We must put them away and keep no trace of any of them in our life. There must be a complete severance with those ungodly allegiance we have in our past.  

God desires sincere service. He resents a half-hearted, insincere and nonchalant worship. The word sincere means to come to God wholeheartedly, completely and with integrity. In Latin, this same word sincere means without wax. It is taken from the context of people in the business of selling pots. To cover up a crack in a pot, a dishonest dealer would use wax to camouflage it. The crack can only be detected in sunlight. To serve God sincerely and honestly is a call to serve without hypocrisy. We must render to God worship and service that is without wax. There must be no projection of the false.

Joshua knew that serving God in sincerity is a choice. So, He set the example. His commitment is this, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Like him, we all have a free moral choice. God did not make us robots that would instinctively obey Him. Serving God is a choice we are free to make. To twist our arms and force us to serve Him would violate our free will. And Joshua knew that well. Hence, he told the Israelites to decide. Today, we also stand in the same situation as the people of Israel did at Shechem. The choice to serve God is also ours to make. This is a choice we have the capacity to make. What will you choose? As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! 

Joshua 24:1-13 – Remember God’s grace in our life

The nation of Israel had come to the point where they had settled in. Each tribe had received their inheritance. Their enemies were either pushed back or kept at bay. Joshua had warned the elders and leaders not to be complacent and told them vehemently never to compromise. What he challenged them to do was to cling and stay committed to the Lord. Their future was looking good. And this was certainly a good time to consolidate, align and build their future. However, if they were not careful, this could also be the most dangerous time of their life.

Joshua also knew that everything they had attained with the help of God could be destroyed by their carelessness. He knew that they had the tendency to forget what the Lord had done for them. Like everyone else, they could develop amnesia and overlook where they came from and where they would have been. In their state of wonderment, they might become oblivious to the looming forces that were waiting to get them if they should let down their guard. While this was a time to rejoice, it was also a time to stay alert. There was the need for them to decide what sort of a future they desire with the Lord. It would spell danger if the mission of their future with God was not carefully thought through and mapped out. The attainment of the destiny one hopes for must begin with the first step in the right direction. A false start would take them where they wouldn’t want to go. As it was for them so it will also be for us. 

So wisely Joshua assembled the elders, the leaders, and people from every tribe at Shechem. He then led them into a time of reflection and recollection of what the Lord had done for them. The purpose of this exercise was to help them remember where they came from and where they could have been, had the Lord not intervened in their circumstances. Like them, we too need to programme into our lives, times for periodical introspection. This exercise will help us to keep our life in check and align.  

Tracing their history as God’s people Joshua showed them how privileged they were. In short, God had granted their forefathers the privilege of experiencing His power, His presence, and His provision. From the time God called their forefathers from the pagan society of Terah, from Abraham to Isaac and Jacob, God had been gracious. When the children of Israel went to Egypt and came under Pharaoh’s bondage, God sent Moses and Aaron to their rescue. All along their journey and in every difficult turn of event, God was gracious and delivered them from their enemies. Even when they had been disobedient God had been more than magnanimous to them. God had a hand in every victory they experienced. He was the one who had driven the enemies out of Canaan to give them their inheritance. Joshua’s recollection of the exploits God had granted them was to help them to be humble and show gratitude toward God. Like them, it is also good for us to set time aside ever so often to recall all that God through Jesus has done for us. It will help to keep us humble, grateful, loyal and faithful. Whether we know it or not, God has a hand in every victory we experience in life. We must be forever grateful to Him.     

Joshua 23:1-16 – The call to embrace the fullness of God

Joshua, through his godly leadership, had helped the children of Israel to possess the land of Canaan. By this time, he was old and advanced in years. His death seemed imminent. He knew how easy it was to become complacent when inundated with activities and so to lose one’s direction in life. So, before he stepped off the stage of life, he wanted to share his heart with the people whom he had led so far. Therefore, two meetings to address the people was set up. The first one, recorded in Joshua 23, was to address the elders and the leaders. The second, recorded in Joshua 24, involved all the people as well.

Joshua’s burning desire was to see the people stay true to God. So, he admonished them to stay serious with the Lord. He was calling them to remain steadfastly committed and faithful in their walk with God. We know what was foremost on his mind by his sharing. The last two chapters capture the concerns of Joshua’s heart. By musing over his concerns, we too could be profoundly instructed on the will and desires of God for us as much as He had for Israel, His people.  

Joshua was primarily concerned for them in three areas. Firstly, he was afraid that the people would become complacent and neglect the instruction of the Lord. This is clearly seen in his admonition in the first three words of verses 6. He said to them “Be very firm….” It is true that changes would take place in one’s life journey. New circumstances will be faced with each progress. But being faithful to the Lord and His Word must never shift. This is what will keep us stay true to the course with God. Complacency is one the thing that can stumble our walk with God. The primary reason why we do not attain a victorious life is not failure but our complacency. Our inability to attain the life we ought to live can be traced to our willingness to live below our capability. Let us not become lukewarm like the Laodicean Christians described in the book of Revelation.

In verse 7, we can see secondly that Joshua was concerned that the people would compromise and adopt the practices of the people in Canaan. He told them in no uncertain term that “you will not associate with these nations, these which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them.” Compromise is what often shatters one’s dream. And unfortunately, the children of Israel compromised and adopted pagan practices as they journeyed along. They did what Joshua feared. This is a lesson for us. We must take heed and remember that while we live in this world, we must not live according to the value and system of the world. Remember Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  

Thirdly, Joshua was also concerned about their commitment. He knew a key to their being faithful to God would be their commitment to Him. So, in verse 8 he said to them, “But you are to cling to the Lord your God….” This is also a word for us too. We must also cling to the Lord. And to help them and us remain committed to God, Joshua gave a challenge found in verses 9-16. What do these verses tell us today? In essence, these verses remind us that graciousness is just one aspect of God and that there are other aspects that we must not forget. We must not forget that He is also a God of wrath. While we acknowledge God’s grace, we must not soft-pedal the aspect of His wrath. Thus, we must seek to know and embrace God in all His fullness. We must bring into focus the fullness of the Lord so that we will walk before Him with reverential fear all the days of our life. Love Him and fear Him!   

Joshua 22:11-34 – Handling and preventing misunderstanding

Joshua 22:10-34 is a good passage to learn concerning handling and preventing misunderstanding, the great advocate for disunity. Misunderstanding creates strife for brethren and prevents harmonious and peaceful co-existence. It is often caused by a lack of communication, presumption, and a failure to clarify. Thankfully, for the nation of Israel, it was resolved through the willingness to sit down, reasonably discuss and understanding the rationale and perspective of the other party’s decision.

When the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh took possession of the land east of Jordan, they built an altar. They did it without making their intention known to the rest of the tribes that had settled in the land of Canaan. Not making their intenti0n known to the remaining nine and a half tribes caused the latter to conclude wrongly. They presumed that those two and a half tribes had reneged. So, in verse 16 we see their strong but wrong rebuke released upon the two and a half tribes. They said, ‘What is this unfaithful act which you have committed against the God of Israel, turning away from following the Lord this day, by building yourselves an altar, to rebel against the Lord this day.” This is being presumptuous. They assumed that they were unfaithful and had built an altar to foreign gods. They remembered two incidences in the past that brought great disrepute to the nation. One was the situation when they were led astray by Balaam at Peor. This incidence is recorded in Numbers 22-23. The other situation, recorded in Joshua 7, was when Achan kept a banned article and caused Israel to be defeated in their battle with Ai.       

Fortunately, the tribes from the west of Jordan were wise to confront the situation directly with the two and a half tribes east of Jordan. This upfront dialogue provided an opportunity for them to explain their perspective. The tribes in the east of Jordan had a healthy reason for doing what they did. Their intention was clear. The altar was supposed to be a unifying object between them living in the east of Jordan and their brethren living in the west. It was not intended to be an altar of sacrifice. For they did not want the River Jordan to be a barrier between them. So, they replicated the altar seen at the Tabernacle so as to remind them and future generation of their kinship with the rest of Israel. They did it with good intention and implored the Lord to be their witness. A misunderstanding was averted and the relationship between the tribes continued to exist peacefully. What they said made sense and brought great relief to the tribes in the land of Canaan. So, the misunderstanding was peacefully resolved.   

Here are four critical factors to ensure harmonious relationship in our co-laboring:

1.              Stay faithful in our relationship with God and our fellow brethren.

2.             Make known intentions clearly to avoid others from second-guessing our intent.

3.             Refuse to presume without finding out the real reason.     

4.             Engage in needful dialogues to understand perspectives.

Joshua 22:1-9 – Keep the finishing line in focus

In Joshua 22:1-9, the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half a tribe of Manasseh were summoned by Joshua and commended for keeping their words. While on their journey into the promised land, they saw a good pasture land in the east of Jordan. Since they had lots of sheep, they wanted to settle in the land. Moses told them they could have it only if they would first help their brethren in the other tribes to conquer Canaan. Then they could return to possess the land they had requested. They had kept their words and helped the other tribes to subdue the land of Canaan. So, Joshua allowed them to return to possess their inheritance. Here, we learn the need to keep our words. We must let our words be our bond. Ability to keep what we have promised is an indication of our integrity. We are only as good as our words.  The Lord Jesus tells us that we should make sure our yes is yes, and our no is no. Anything else would be needless and excessive. So, let’s be people of our words.

Joshua was a God-fearing man. As a leader, he cared for his followers. He did not only care when they were in his presence, but he also made it his business to ensure that they would not fall into errors in his absence. At this point in time, he was advanced in years and aware that he did not have much time. Before he broke camp, he wanted to ensure that the people of Israel would stay the course with God. He wanted to remind them to be faithful to the Lord who had brought them into the promised land. His purpose was to help them remember the glory of the Lord, whom they served. This would ensure that they keep the work of God vibrant. So here he warned them of three things they ought to look out for.

Firstly, he admonished them not to be complacent. He was afraid that the people would take the law of God for granted. So, in the first part of verse 5, he exhorted them to “be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you….” Like the children of Israel, self-centeredness and self-absorption can also be the two common maladies of today. It is true that many, even believers of today, do have a short concentration span. They are quickly attracted by the fads of this world. If we are to finish our journey with distinction, we need to stay focused and remain true to the Word of the Lord. We should never neglect but to study and search God’s inspired Word, that can make us wise to the way of salvation. Through them, we will learn to walk in God’s righteous ways.  

Secondly, he exhorted them not to compromise. So, he told them to love the Lord their God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments. Just like the Israelites, the world with its many voices is also vying for our attention. If our eyes are not fixed on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith, we may run into the tendency of running aimlessly in different directions. We must make it our objective to stay the course and not allow anything to distract us from our mission.

Thirdly, he challenged them into a deeper commitment. Joshua was afraid that they would relax in their fervency and not fully embrace the Lord as they should. Remember what Jesus said, he who sets his hand on the plough and looks back is not worthy of the kingdom. Let’s stay committed and do what the last part of verse 5 exhorts us to do, to “…hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”