Joshua 23
Hello my church family, welcome to another study into the story of Joshua. I pray that this week has been filled with the presence of God and you have had the privilege of experiencing his character. I pray that as we open his Word for this study that he makes himself known to you. I pray that this chapter gives you the encouragement you needed. That by reading his Word it gives you hope, healing, and a sense of belonging. I pray that Joshua has spoken to you and your situation, that as we read the second to last chapter we can celebrate what we have learned and experienced. I pray that we can conclude this book in a way that glorifies the Lord. Let us, then, break down this chapter and see what God has in store:
Vv. 1-2 The setting is given to us. The final two chapters will take place well after the battles for the land when Joshua has become really old. The land has been settled and the people have been given rest in the inheritance from the Lord. Joshua is gathering the leaders of the tribes of Israel to give them one final command.
Vv. 3-13 Joshua returns us to the idea of being strong, but in this moment it is strength in remaining obedient to the Lord. He encourages the Israelites to be careful to love the Lord (11). In being obedient and loving the Lord, they will in turn refuse to mix their morals and loyalty to the one true God with those who remain in the land they’ve inherited. The Israelites need only to cling to the Lord and in time God promises to drive these evil tribes from the land.
Vv. 14-16 Joshua is going to pass soon. Instead of bringing up his own victories, he reminds the Israelites of the victories the Lord has had on their behalf.
Here are some closing thoughts from our study that we may hold onto:
Joshua’s Model of Leadership: Joshua is providing an inspiring form of leadership that all of us ought to learn from. First, as Joshua looks towards the end of his life, we see the paternal love of Joshua. He draws the leaders of Israel in and gives them a final charge. He reminds them of where they have come from and where they have yet to go. Because he loves Israel, he tells them to obey the Lord and do not mix with the evil tribes left in the land. He does not want them to fail, so his last commands point Israel towards success. The second model is how he reflects on his own life and ministry. He says that he is about to pass, and look how during his life that God had done all he said he would! What a testimony to the people of Israel, that achieving the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership was not credited to Joshua but rather to God. Joshua doesn’t say look what I’ve done but rather look at all God has done.
Final Command: Joshua knows that the biggest problem facing the Israelites is the remaining foreign tribes living among them. It has the potential to destroy everything that the Lord had been building up. If the Israelites mix their morals with these foreign tribes and accept worship of idols God will surely remove Israel from the land. So Joshua returns Israel to the beginning of the conquest by commanding them as in the beginning, be strong in the Lord and obedient. If they are strong and obedient they will be prosperous.