Joshua 22-This seems to be the key to living the life God commanded us to live. The questions I have: “Are we doing this? Do we even know what these commands mean?”
5 Take good care to observe the commandment and instruction that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
I think the remainder of chapter 22 gives us a glimpse of this. The 9.5 tribes west of the Jordan River remembered the sins of their fathers and grandfathers and themselves and obeyed God’s directive to rid themselves of all who were apostates. When the heard the other 2.5 tribes built an altar they immediately readied themselves for war in order to purge the nation of idolatry. When they arrived, they allowed an explanation. When the explanation glorified God, they relented from attack. How quick are we to misjudge and not give opportunity for explanation? How often are we more likely to let sin continue rather than confront it?
It is also interesting that the 2.5 tribes were willing to be ridiculed (killed) for taking a stand of remembrance of God’s grace in their life. How often do we quickly pray or cower for fear of being found out that we are believers and want to always remember the great things God has done? I think of examples of when non-believers ask us how our day went and we merely tell them that it has been good. We purposely don’t tell them of the blessings God has done for us that day for “fear” of being exposed as a Christian.
Chapter 23-Not all the land was taken under Israelite control by the death of Joshua. If the Israelites obeyed, God would still take care of the enemies in the land. God is still in control and powerful, yet calls us to obedience for that power to manifest itself. God keeps all His promises and will bring His curses (for they are promised) to those who turn from Him. It is interesting that Joshua tells us to avoid syncretism. This is the very sin they commit. What areas of our lives do we live syncratically (I looked it up and it is a word)?
Joshua 24-Joshua’s great challenge to the Israelites (and us) and his death are presented here. Even here, 14-15, Joshua is calling against syncretism and is challenging us to serve only one. Do we serve God or what we have made important in our lives–our little god? Some translation of verses 19ff imply that God was telling Israel that even though they now claim to serve Him, they will turn because it is truly impossible to serve Him 24/7. Only Jesus, who fulfills the Law, could and did.
The book closes with good news of the nation following God. The next book, which we will begin after Jude, shows they turn from Him once the nation has forgotten what God has done.
If you noticed, these chapters were remembrances of what God has done. When we remember, reflect, and proclaim what God has done for us, we will remember His goodness and grace longer and follow Him more closely. It is when we forget Him and focus on our troubles, as in Judges, that we tend to walk away from Him doing what we think is right (and at times proclaiming that it is what He wants).
There are many thoughts to ponder in these chapters. Let’s walk closer to Him as we attempt to recall all He has done for us.
