Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10
Good morning! Today we will wrap up the book of Joshua and touch on a few verses in the second chapter of Judges. But before we get started, let’s take a quick look back and talk about the timing of events in today’s message…
The confusion over the offensive altar, which we discussed last Sunday, took place immediately after the land had been divided and the Transjordan tribes had returned to their inheritance. Most scholars estimate that Joshua was around 70-80 years old when this took place. However, the discourses recorded in the final chapters of Joshua were given near to the time of his death, at age 110. Thus, it is reasonable to estimate that some 30-40 years passed between the events of Joshua 22 and 23. This gap is longer than the entire conquest itself. During this extended span, the Israelites rebuilt cities that had been ravished during the conquest and settled in the land of Canaan.
I. A MESSAGE TO THE LEADERS (Joshua 23:1-16)
Throughout Joshua’s entire life, the children of Israel as a whole faithfully served the LORD. As time went by, they became more and more comfortable in their new homes and surroundings. When he was very old, Joshua gathered the leaders of Israel together to give them some parting wisdom and counsel.
He reminded these men of everything that God had done for Israel and how the LORD had fought on their behalf during the exodus and the conquest. He reminisced about dividing the land among the tribes and issuing their charge to take possession of it. He urged them to carefully obey the Law of Moses and not follow after the idols and false gods of Canaan. He warned Israel that if they intermarried and intermingled with the remaining heathen peoples living among them that they would suffer God’s judgment and perish from the land they’d been given.
Joshua knew that his remaining days were few. He emphasized to the leaders of Israel that God had not failed to keep any of His good promises. However, this same God who had kept His promises to bless would also keep His promises to curse if the people turned away from Him by violating His covenant. As he spoke, Joshua felt led to address the entire congregation - not just its leaders. He was deeply concerned for their continued spiritual well being.
II. A CHALLENGE TO THE PEOPLE (Joshua 24:1-28; Judges 2:5-7)
Therefore Joshua summoned all of the tribes of Israel to Shechem, which was located between Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal - the very place where they had pledged to serve God during the conquest many years earlier (Joshua 8:30-35). Joshua began his farewell address by summarizing the history of Israel up until this point. He spoke of how God had chosen Abraham out of Ur and brought him to Canaan. He spoke of Isaac and Jacob, and the slavery of the Hebrew children in Egypt. He talked about the exodus under Moses and Aaron and the wilderness wanderings. He talked about Israel’s victories east of the Jordan over the Amorites and Moabites. Finally he spoke of the conquest itself, and how God had given His people the Promised Land.
In light of the LORD’s past faithfulness, Joshua challenged the people to fear God alone. He called for the people to make a choice - either to serve the true God of Israel or the false gods of Egypt and Canaan, but not to tarry between them. It was during this speech that Joshua made the famous statement, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” The people vowed to follow Joshua’s example, and renewed their commitment to serve the LORD and keep His covenant.
However, Joshua was concerned that the people of Israel would not keep their commitment. He warned them, as he had already done to their leaders, that if they abandoned God and disobeyed Him there would be severe consequences. Again the people declared their allegiance to the LORD. Joshua urged them to do away with foreign and false gods, and for a third time to people collectively committed to serving the LORD alone. In response, Joshua set up a large stone to serve as a witness and memorial to their renewed covenant with God. He also recorded their commitment in the Book of the Law of God.
Joshua dismissed the tribes to their respective inheritances one last time. They obediently served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua - those who had personally seen and experienced the great work which God had done for Israel. Unfortunately, once this generation died off the people began to wander from the LORD…
III. JOSHUA’S DEATH (Joshua 24:29-33; Judges 2:8-9)
After living a long and heroic life, Joshua died at the age of 110. He was buried in the city of his inheritance, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He was and is remembered as 1 of the greatest and most valiant leaders in Israel's history.
Also around this time Eleazar the son of Aaron died. Eleazar had served many years as high priest alongside Joshua just as his father Aaron had served alongside Moses a generation earlier. Eleazar was buried at Gibeah, also in the hill country of Ephraim. His son Phinehas took his place as high priest.
Another interesting fact is mentioned in the final verses of Joshua. After the Israelites conquered the land of Canaan, they buried the bones of Joseph at Shechem. Joseph had been the prince of Egypt centuries before. The Hebrew children had removed his bones from his tomb in Egypt, carried them throughout the exodus and conquest, and finally laid them to rest in the Promised Land (Genesis 50:25; Exodus 13:19). It was Joseph's dying request to be buried in the land of Israel and, though it took almost 450 years, his wish was finally granted.
CONCLUSION
The last act of Joshua recorded in scripture was his calling of the people of Israel to renew their covenant with God. Joshua wanted to die knowing that his people’s relationship with and devotion to the LORD was strong and healthy. Just as his mentor Moses had done near the end of his life (Deuteronomy 30:19), so also Joshua challenged the congregation to choose and follow God. And, at least for a while after his death, the people did so.
People tend to follow the example of their leaders. Unfortunately, brave and godly leaders like Joshua are few and far between. He was the right man at the right time, and under his supervision the Hebrew children finally took possession of the Promised Land. He presided over Israel during a season of incredible triumph and victory. Joshua exhibited a fearless faith, and trusted wholeheartedly in God to give him success.
In the opening chapter of Joshua, the LORD urged him to be “strong and courageous”. Joshua listened and obeyed. He was a true warrior of the faith. May we follow his example.
Good morning! Today we will wrap up the book of Joshua and touch on a few verses in the second chapter of Judges. But before we get started, let’s take a quick look back and talk about the timing of events in today’s message…
The confusion over the offensive altar, which we discussed last Sunday, took place immediately after the land had been divided and the Transjordan tribes had returned to their inheritance. Most scholars estimate that Joshua was around 70-80 years old when this took place. However, the discourses recorded in the final chapters of Joshua were given near to the time of his death, at age 110. Thus, it is reasonable to estimate that some 30-40 years passed between the events of Joshua 22 and 23. This gap is longer than the entire conquest itself. During this extended span, the Israelites rebuilt cities that had been ravished during the conquest and settled in the land of Canaan.
I. A MESSAGE TO THE LEADERS (Joshua 23:1-16)
Throughout Joshua’s entire life, the children of Israel as a whole faithfully served the LORD. As time went by, they became more and more comfortable in their new homes and surroundings. When he was very old, Joshua gathered the leaders of Israel together to give them some parting wisdom and counsel.
He reminded these men of everything that God had done for Israel and how the LORD had fought on their behalf during the exodus and the conquest. He reminisced about dividing the land among the tribes and issuing their charge to take possession of it. He urged them to carefully obey the Law of Moses and not follow after the idols and false gods of Canaan. He warned Israel that if they intermarried and intermingled with the remaining heathen peoples living among them that they would suffer God’s judgment and perish from the land they’d been given.
Joshua knew that his remaining days were few. He emphasized to the leaders of Israel that God had not failed to keep any of His good promises. However, this same God who had kept His promises to bless would also keep His promises to curse if the people turned away from Him by violating His covenant. As he spoke, Joshua felt led to address the entire congregation - not just its leaders. He was deeply concerned for their continued spiritual well being.
II. A CHALLENGE TO THE PEOPLE (Joshua 24:1-28; Judges 2:5-7)
Therefore Joshua summoned all of the tribes of Israel to Shechem, which was located between Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal - the very place where they had pledged to serve God during the conquest many years earlier (Joshua 8:30-35). Joshua began his farewell address by summarizing the history of Israel up until this point. He spoke of how God had chosen Abraham out of Ur and brought him to Canaan. He spoke of Isaac and Jacob, and the slavery of the Hebrew children in Egypt. He talked about the exodus under Moses and Aaron and the wilderness wanderings. He talked about Israel’s victories east of the Jordan over the Amorites and Moabites. Finally he spoke of the conquest itself, and how God had given His people the Promised Land.
In light of the LORD’s past faithfulness, Joshua challenged the people to fear God alone. He called for the people to make a choice - either to serve the true God of Israel or the false gods of Egypt and Canaan, but not to tarry between them. It was during this speech that Joshua made the famous statement, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” The people vowed to follow Joshua’s example, and renewed their commitment to serve the LORD and keep His covenant.
However, Joshua was concerned that the people of Israel would not keep their commitment. He warned them, as he had already done to their leaders, that if they abandoned God and disobeyed Him there would be severe consequences. Again the people declared their allegiance to the LORD. Joshua urged them to do away with foreign and false gods, and for a third time to people collectively committed to serving the LORD alone. In response, Joshua set up a large stone to serve as a witness and memorial to their renewed covenant with God. He also recorded their commitment in the Book of the Law of God.
Joshua dismissed the tribes to their respective inheritances one last time. They obediently served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua - those who had personally seen and experienced the great work which God had done for Israel. Unfortunately, once this generation died off the people began to wander from the LORD…
III. JOSHUA’S DEATH (Joshua 24:29-33; Judges 2:8-9)
After living a long and heroic life, Joshua died at the age of 110. He was buried in the city of his inheritance, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He was and is remembered as 1 of the greatest and most valiant leaders in Israel's history.
Also around this time Eleazar the son of Aaron died. Eleazar had served many years as high priest alongside Joshua just as his father Aaron had served alongside Moses a generation earlier. Eleazar was buried at Gibeah, also in the hill country of Ephraim. His son Phinehas took his place as high priest.
Another interesting fact is mentioned in the final verses of Joshua. After the Israelites conquered the land of Canaan, they buried the bones of Joseph at Shechem. Joseph had been the prince of Egypt centuries before. The Hebrew children had removed his bones from his tomb in Egypt, carried them throughout the exodus and conquest, and finally laid them to rest in the Promised Land (Genesis 50:25; Exodus 13:19). It was Joseph's dying request to be buried in the land of Israel and, though it took almost 450 years, his wish was finally granted.
CONCLUSION
The last act of Joshua recorded in scripture was his calling of the people of Israel to renew their covenant with God. Joshua wanted to die knowing that his people’s relationship with and devotion to the LORD was strong and healthy. Just as his mentor Moses had done near the end of his life (Deuteronomy 30:19), so also Joshua challenged the congregation to choose and follow God. And, at least for a while after his death, the people did so.
People tend to follow the example of their leaders. Unfortunately, brave and godly leaders like Joshua are few and far between. He was the right man at the right time, and under his supervision the Hebrew children finally took possession of the Promised Land. He presided over Israel during a season of incredible triumph and victory. Joshua exhibited a fearless faith, and trusted wholeheartedly in God to give him success.
In the opening chapter of Joshua, the LORD urged him to be “strong and courageous”. Joshua listened and obeyed. He was a true warrior of the faith. May we follow his example.