Here we come to the closing episode in the story of the book of Joshua which is recorded in the last 2 chapters (chapter 23 and 24). Joshua is coming to the end of his life as he is very old and advance in years (even older from the previous passage we see in Joshua 13). At the same time, his ministry too is coming to the end. It is a fitting moment for Joshua to summon all the leaders (Joshua 23) and all God’s people: the Israelites (Joshua 24) to deliver God’s final word to them. Often people say something very crucial or something that he intended so much or something that comes to his very heart, at their last moment, before they takes their last breath - and this is what happen to Joshua as a leader that God appointed for God’s people at that time.
In chapter 24 Joshua summoned all the people of Israel to a place called Shechem to deliver God’s final word to teach them of all the lessons that God had been teaching them down through this years since they stood at the edge of the Jordan, crossing the river to the promised land, facing a multitude of enemies, and now they have conquered (most of the land of their inheritance) and dwell in the land that God has given to them. God asked them to look back and see that God has abundantly blessed them. Now Shechem is a place of a great significance. Historically in Genesis 12:6-8, It was here at Shechem that God said to Abraham (Abram was his name at that time) that “to your descendants, I will give this land”. This thing seems impossible at that time, and was such an extraordinary promise to Abraham, knowing Sarai was barren, and they had no son in their old days. The promise claims 2 things: that God promised to Abraham for descendants, and that God promised Abraham for a land to his descendants. It is very unbelievable in man’s eye, but here the descendants of Abraham were gathered together at the close of Joshua’s ministry in occupation of that land and meeting at Shechem, celebrating and remembering every details that God has promised, and so Shechem had become not just a place of promise to Abraham but also a place of fulfillment for Abraham’s descendants. Shechem had become a place of review of God’s dealing in the past, God’s mercy and grace to His people.
Can you imagine the nuance at that time to God’s people, gathering at a place called Shechem while Joshua speaks those word from God? I think if i were there i will drop some unspeakable tears of joy, gratitude, and overwhelmed with this feeling of humility knowing that we are unworthy and undeserved but yet God’s grace and mercy was pour unto us.
At Shechem, Joshua was stressing 3 main points for God’s people that God has spoken to him. And those 3 if we may summarise are as follows:
1. For israel to be conscious of God’s faithfulness and sufficiency
2. For Israel to be committed to God’s word and His way (to love God)
3. For Israel to be challenged by God’s service and standards
1. To be conscious of God’s faithfulness and sufficiency
Joshua told the the Israelites to be conscious of God’s faithfulness by reviewing or looking back to God’s dealing in the past. We see such verse in Joshua 23:3 and also in verse 14: Joshua said to the Israelites that they have seen all that the LORD your God has done for their sake, and in verse 14 he said that his day is reaching its end, but you, O Israel, knows in your hearts and souls, that not one thing has failed from what God had promised; Every promise has been fulfilled, and you have seen it, O Israel! God’s unfailing love has been proven and they know it. The point that Joshua is making here is that God is not like a man that He should lie; God is not fickle; He is unchangeable in His mind, spirit and intention; He is absolutely faithful in every words that He speaks. We human might find this difficult to grasp because we can’t find it anywhere else except in God. Certainly, we can’t find this thing in ourselves because it talks about character, that we are not reliable in everything that we said, or do or think, even in our intention. We change in our character, we change because of condition and circumstances, don’t we? There is a phrase called “bad hair day” which means a bad day which is caused by one’s hair seems unmanageable (in a literal sense), or simply just any bad day. Can you imagine just because of our hair - and that could make our day becomes “bad”. Do you see how fragile we are? But that’s our nature - that’s normal as human. But our God never change, even though I sin against Thee, He still loves me just as much as He did before.
God’s word reminded them of who they were before: Joshua 24:2-3 said that they were idolaters, their fathers served other gods BUT GOD took their father Abraham and led him through Canaan, and made his offspring many. Then God reminded again on what happen when they were in Egypt: God sent Moses and Aaron to brought them out of slavery; when egyptians pursued them, and when the Israelites cried to God, God annihilate the egyptians before their eyes by the water of the Reed Sea; when the Amorites fought with God’s people, God gave them into their hand; when Balak the son of Zippor arose against Israel and sent Balaam to curse Israel, God didn’t listen to Balaam, instead God blessed Israel. When they went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and when the leaders of Jericho fought against Israel, God said that He gave them into Israel’s hand. God sent the hornet before the Israelites, which drove them out (Joshua 24:12) (the ”hornet” here is an allegory that God used to describe the work of His Spirit among the Israelites enemies) - it wasn’t by their sword or their bow, but it was God’s doing. It was not that they became passive , and did nothing, but instead God’s power made the greater effect to the fight that they did. The Israelites have to rely on God to win battles: Joshua 23:10 - God said that one man of the Israelites able to chase and defeat thousands, because it is the LORD God who fights for them, just as He promised them. verse 13, God said that He gave the Israelites a land which they had NOT labored and cities that they had NOT built; they eat fruit that they did NOT plant - It was an act of Grace, and they have to be aware of God’s faithfulness.
We, often find that we have all the resources to keep our promises - and as human, we often make promises quite sincerely and intend to keep it, but then when the time comes we find out that we don’t have the resources to do so - We had misjudged our capacity to do what we promise - this is very common. My friend, our heavenly Father never find Himself in that position - and this is what Joshua was saying to the people of God. If one of them can defeat a multitude of enemies, it was not because they were remarkable, but because God is for them.
Another interesting observation, that I may see in these passage is that God didn’t even say about their failure / sin against God. I wonder why, but perhaps God wants to show His character towards His people, that even though they have sinned against Thee, God has put their transgression behind, God even didn’t want to say it because His grace and mercy are above all their sin. God said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” In other words, God’s grace is enough. Beloved, this is our God.. isn’t that a comfort?
2. To be committed to God’s word and His way (to love God)
The second thing that Joshua has a burden or long for in his later days of his life, is what God has commanded Joshua to do in the beginning of his ministry on Joshua 1:7 - to be committed to God’s word and God’s way - which is also told again by Joshua to the people of God on Joshua 23:6 “Therefore be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law...”
Looking back and to be aware of God’s faithfulness for God’s people should motivate us to commit our life to keep God’s word and to do according to His way - this is the characteristic of God’s people.
If we are God’s people, our life should yearn to be longing for God by meditating on His word, and obeying His way. Joshua made it clear on verse 8 (Joshua 23:8 but you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day.) and 11 (Joshua 23:11 Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God.) that we can’t separate to cling to the LORD, and to love the LORD our God, from a total commitment to God - To Love God implies that we want to discover what is in His mind, how He thinks, what matter most to Him, what His plan and purposes are, and not what we can use God for what we can get out of God. People often interested with the idea of God because of this very reason: so that they can get something from God, and not the other way around.
God has saved us, and not just that, God has done so much for us, what is our response? How does the scripture to us? How does the Word of God really be the source of your confidence and strength? How do we live, my friend? I really mean how do we LIVE and not how do we profess? Is loving God is the root of how we live - in our thinking, opinions, priorities, decisions, standards?
Jesus says “If you love me, keep my commandments” - John 14:15
3. To be challenged by God’s service and standards
Finally, in Joshua 24 verse 14-28, Joshua challenged the people of God by God’s service and to live with God’s standards. Joshua was forcing the Israelites with one issue where they had to choose whom they will serve. Why? Because the service that God wants is an exclusive service.
If we paraphrase what is written on verse 14 onwards it says something like this: “God says, because of all of what God has done and said in the past, now therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him with sincerity and faithfulness.. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord!” We notice here that it is something that the Israelites had not yet done; it is clearly that there are some gods of their fathers still in their home. The people of Israel replied, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD”. Maybe they would say “Joshua, don’t you know our name? Israel? we are the people of God.. of course we will serve God!” But Joshua shockingly replied (in verse 19, with my attempt to paraphrase) “You can not serve God, for He is a holy God! He is a jealous God! God will turn against you when you forsake Him by worshipping other gods.. you can not serve the LORD God, as well as serving other gods!”
The problem of Israel was not that they didn’t worship God. They did worship God. But the problem is they didn’t worship God ONLY. That is why Joshua said “Put away your father’s gods!” The people then agree to choose to serve God in the following verse, then in verse 23 Joshua replied “so put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD God of Israel only”. Jesus is our Joshua (Jeshua - Savior) and He said in Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (or mammon).” Isn’t that what normally happen in our lives as well? we profess that we serve God, and we do serve God in church, but we also serve other gods or serving ourselves. Our relationship and service with God is an exclusive relationship (A covenant relationship). This is God’s standard that He wants our total commitment only to Him alone as He has been so faithful also to His people only.
We may portray this covenant relationship in christian marriage. In Christian marriage, husband and wife has to serve and love each other regardless.. regardless whether their partner has been good to them, regardless their partner love them in return, even regardless their partner may betray them someday. Why? because God has set an example before us that He is faithful regardless.. regardless we have been good to God, regardless we love God, regardless we had betray Him - even He has been so faithful when we are still an enemy to Him (Rom 5:7-8).
Joshua then made a covenant with the people, and put a large stone as a witness for all that they have promise to serve God, lest they deal falsely with God. So the same question that Joshua challenged toward Israel, may challenge us as God’s people: Choose today, whom you will serve? Do we declare just like what Joshua did in verse 15 “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”? We serve God, not because of our background, maybe we have been raised in Christian family, or because we are christian leaders, even pastors, or our name signifies christianity, but we should devote ourselves in this presence days, day to day.. till His return. It’s not that we serve in order to achieve our salvation, no, salvation is not based on our merit! But we serve as a response because God has been so gracious and faithful to us: that, we can’t never repay God, and so we commit our lives for His glory ALONE.
So Choose today, whom you will serve?
Amen,
Paul Hartono
In chapter 24 Joshua summoned all the people of Israel to a place called Shechem to deliver God’s final word to teach them of all the lessons that God had been teaching them down through this years since they stood at the edge of the Jordan, crossing the river to the promised land, facing a multitude of enemies, and now they have conquered (most of the land of their inheritance) and dwell in the land that God has given to them. God asked them to look back and see that God has abundantly blessed them. Now Shechem is a place of a great significance. Historically in Genesis 12:6-8, It was here at Shechem that God said to Abraham (Abram was his name at that time) that “to your descendants, I will give this land”. This thing seems impossible at that time, and was such an extraordinary promise to Abraham, knowing Sarai was barren, and they had no son in their old days. The promise claims 2 things: that God promised to Abraham for descendants, and that God promised Abraham for a land to his descendants. It is very unbelievable in man’s eye, but here the descendants of Abraham were gathered together at the close of Joshua’s ministry in occupation of that land and meeting at Shechem, celebrating and remembering every details that God has promised, and so Shechem had become not just a place of promise to Abraham but also a place of fulfillment for Abraham’s descendants. Shechem had become a place of review of God’s dealing in the past, God’s mercy and grace to His people.
Can you imagine the nuance at that time to God’s people, gathering at a place called Shechem while Joshua speaks those word from God? I think if i were there i will drop some unspeakable tears of joy, gratitude, and overwhelmed with this feeling of humility knowing that we are unworthy and undeserved but yet God’s grace and mercy was pour unto us.
At Shechem, Joshua was stressing 3 main points for God’s people that God has spoken to him. And those 3 if we may summarise are as follows:
1. For israel to be conscious of God’s faithfulness and sufficiency
2. For Israel to be committed to God’s word and His way (to love God)
3. For Israel to be challenged by God’s service and standards
1. To be conscious of God’s faithfulness and sufficiency
Joshua told the the Israelites to be conscious of God’s faithfulness by reviewing or looking back to God’s dealing in the past. We see such verse in Joshua 23:3 and also in verse 14: Joshua said to the Israelites that they have seen all that the LORD your God has done for their sake, and in verse 14 he said that his day is reaching its end, but you, O Israel, knows in your hearts and souls, that not one thing has failed from what God had promised; Every promise has been fulfilled, and you have seen it, O Israel! God’s unfailing love has been proven and they know it. The point that Joshua is making here is that God is not like a man that He should lie; God is not fickle; He is unchangeable in His mind, spirit and intention; He is absolutely faithful in every words that He speaks. We human might find this difficult to grasp because we can’t find it anywhere else except in God. Certainly, we can’t find this thing in ourselves because it talks about character, that we are not reliable in everything that we said, or do or think, even in our intention. We change in our character, we change because of condition and circumstances, don’t we? There is a phrase called “bad hair day” which means a bad day which is caused by one’s hair seems unmanageable (in a literal sense), or simply just any bad day. Can you imagine just because of our hair - and that could make our day becomes “bad”. Do you see how fragile we are? But that’s our nature - that’s normal as human. But our God never change, even though I sin against Thee, He still loves me just as much as He did before.
God’s word reminded them of who they were before: Joshua 24:2-3 said that they were idolaters, their fathers served other gods BUT GOD took their father Abraham and led him through Canaan, and made his offspring many. Then God reminded again on what happen when they were in Egypt: God sent Moses and Aaron to brought them out of slavery; when egyptians pursued them, and when the Israelites cried to God, God annihilate the egyptians before their eyes by the water of the Reed Sea; when the Amorites fought with God’s people, God gave them into their hand; when Balak the son of Zippor arose against Israel and sent Balaam to curse Israel, God didn’t listen to Balaam, instead God blessed Israel. When they went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and when the leaders of Jericho fought against Israel, God said that He gave them into Israel’s hand. God sent the hornet before the Israelites, which drove them out (Joshua 24:12) (the ”hornet” here is an allegory that God used to describe the work of His Spirit among the Israelites enemies) - it wasn’t by their sword or their bow, but it was God’s doing. It was not that they became passive , and did nothing, but instead God’s power made the greater effect to the fight that they did. The Israelites have to rely on God to win battles: Joshua 23:10 - God said that one man of the Israelites able to chase and defeat thousands, because it is the LORD God who fights for them, just as He promised them. verse 13, God said that He gave the Israelites a land which they had NOT labored and cities that they had NOT built; they eat fruit that they did NOT plant - It was an act of Grace, and they have to be aware of God’s faithfulness.
We, often find that we have all the resources to keep our promises - and as human, we often make promises quite sincerely and intend to keep it, but then when the time comes we find out that we don’t have the resources to do so - We had misjudged our capacity to do what we promise - this is very common. My friend, our heavenly Father never find Himself in that position - and this is what Joshua was saying to the people of God. If one of them can defeat a multitude of enemies, it was not because they were remarkable, but because God is for them.
Another interesting observation, that I may see in these passage is that God didn’t even say about their failure / sin against God. I wonder why, but perhaps God wants to show His character towards His people, that even though they have sinned against Thee, God has put their transgression behind, God even didn’t want to say it because His grace and mercy are above all their sin. God said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” In other words, God’s grace is enough. Beloved, this is our God.. isn’t that a comfort?
2. To be committed to God’s word and His way (to love God)
The second thing that Joshua has a burden or long for in his later days of his life, is what God has commanded Joshua to do in the beginning of his ministry on Joshua 1:7 - to be committed to God’s word and God’s way - which is also told again by Joshua to the people of God on Joshua 23:6 “Therefore be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law...”
Looking back and to be aware of God’s faithfulness for God’s people should motivate us to commit our life to keep God’s word and to do according to His way - this is the characteristic of God’s people.
If we are God’s people, our life should yearn to be longing for God by meditating on His word, and obeying His way. Joshua made it clear on verse 8 (Joshua 23:8 but you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day.) and 11 (Joshua 23:11 Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God.) that we can’t separate to cling to the LORD, and to love the LORD our God, from a total commitment to God - To Love God implies that we want to discover what is in His mind, how He thinks, what matter most to Him, what His plan and purposes are, and not what we can use God for what we can get out of God. People often interested with the idea of God because of this very reason: so that they can get something from God, and not the other way around.
God has saved us, and not just that, God has done so much for us, what is our response? How does the scripture to us? How does the Word of God really be the source of your confidence and strength? How do we live, my friend? I really mean how do we LIVE and not how do we profess? Is loving God is the root of how we live - in our thinking, opinions, priorities, decisions, standards?
Jesus says “If you love me, keep my commandments” - John 14:15
3. To be challenged by God’s service and standards
Finally, in Joshua 24 verse 14-28, Joshua challenged the people of God by God’s service and to live with God’s standards. Joshua was forcing the Israelites with one issue where they had to choose whom they will serve. Why? Because the service that God wants is an exclusive service.
If we paraphrase what is written on verse 14 onwards it says something like this: “God says, because of all of what God has done and said in the past, now therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him with sincerity and faithfulness.. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord!” We notice here that it is something that the Israelites had not yet done; it is clearly that there are some gods of their fathers still in their home. The people of Israel replied, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD”. Maybe they would say “Joshua, don’t you know our name? Israel? we are the people of God.. of course we will serve God!” But Joshua shockingly replied (in verse 19, with my attempt to paraphrase) “You can not serve God, for He is a holy God! He is a jealous God! God will turn against you when you forsake Him by worshipping other gods.. you can not serve the LORD God, as well as serving other gods!”
The problem of Israel was not that they didn’t worship God. They did worship God. But the problem is they didn’t worship God ONLY. That is why Joshua said “Put away your father’s gods!” The people then agree to choose to serve God in the following verse, then in verse 23 Joshua replied “so put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD God of Israel only”. Jesus is our Joshua (Jeshua - Savior) and He said in Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (or mammon).” Isn’t that what normally happen in our lives as well? we profess that we serve God, and we do serve God in church, but we also serve other gods or serving ourselves. Our relationship and service with God is an exclusive relationship (A covenant relationship). This is God’s standard that He wants our total commitment only to Him alone as He has been so faithful also to His people only.
We may portray this covenant relationship in christian marriage. In Christian marriage, husband and wife has to serve and love each other regardless.. regardless whether their partner has been good to them, regardless their partner love them in return, even regardless their partner may betray them someday. Why? because God has set an example before us that He is faithful regardless.. regardless we have been good to God, regardless we love God, regardless we had betray Him - even He has been so faithful when we are still an enemy to Him (Rom 5:7-8).
Joshua then made a covenant with the people, and put a large stone as a witness for all that they have promise to serve God, lest they deal falsely with God. So the same question that Joshua challenged toward Israel, may challenge us as God’s people: Choose today, whom you will serve? Do we declare just like what Joshua did in verse 15 “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”? We serve God, not because of our background, maybe we have been raised in Christian family, or because we are christian leaders, even pastors, or our name signifies christianity, but we should devote ourselves in this presence days, day to day.. till His return. It’s not that we serve in order to achieve our salvation, no, salvation is not based on our merit! But we serve as a response because God has been so gracious and faithful to us: that, we can’t never repay God, and so we commit our lives for His glory ALONE.
So Choose today, whom you will serve?
Amen,
Paul Hartono
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