THOUGHTS ON JOSHUA CHAPTER 23.
This chapter is concerned with the charges which Joshua the man of God gave to the Children of Israel when he was very old and about to die just like Moses did before he died.
Moses and Joshua’s aim was to make sure that the children of Israel will continue to walk in the way of the LORD their God after them. Joshua kept reminding them of the repercussion of turning aside from following the LORD and not keeping His laws as seen in Verses12 and 13, “Else if ye do in any way go back, and cleave unto the remnants of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them and they to you:” Verse 13, “Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.”
Continuity in the Christian faith is very important! Passing the baton down to our children and their generations is God’s delight!
Hear what God said about Abraham in Genesis 18:19, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.”
In verse 14, Joshua reminded them that God is always faithful in His promises; that they are witnesses that every good thing that God promised them has come to pass, not one thing has failed.
So they should not be ungrateful to God and turn their backs on Him!
LESSONS LEARNT
1. God is pleased when we encourage one another to continue in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. God has no pleasure in a backslider.
PRAYER
Father, help us to follow You to the end and to command our children and our household to do likewise in Jesus Christ’s Mighty Name! Amen!