Monday, August 24, 2015

Joshua 23: God Keeps His Word

As the end of his life draws near, Joshua calls a final assembly of Israel and shares both good news and bad news with them.  The good news is that God keeps His word.  The bad news is that God keeps His word.

"And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one thing has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you; all have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed" (vs. 14).  Just as God has so far kept His word regarding Israel's success, Joshua reassures them that any remaining land promised to them will also be delivered in due time.  The opposing nations will be removed and Israel will have charge of the whole land (vs. 5).

However, just as God reliably kept His promises to bless Israel, so too can He be counted on to bring about the curses promised in the event of their disobedience.  Joshua warns the people that those remaining pagan nations around them will become a stumbling block to them if they inter-marry and adopt the false worship of other gods.  "But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the bad things, until he has destroyed you from this good land that the Lord your God has given you" (vs. 15).

The future of the nation rests in the people's hands.  If they adhere to their covenant and stick closely to God, He will continue to protect and bless them.  If, however, they waver and fall into the worship of other gods through inter-marriage and tolerance of other nations, they will lose their place.  The outcome is up to them.

P.S. I was struck by one major note of consistency between the Testaments found in this chapter.  In verse 11, Joshua enjoins the people, "Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God."  The centrality of love in our relationship with God is at home throughout the Bible!

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