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Study No.28 : Going Home : Joshua 21:43 - 22:9

A. Find out :

  

1. What was the state of the land? v.43,44

2. Why? v.45

3. To whom did Joshua now speak? v.1

4. What had they done? v.2,3

5. To where were they returning? v.7

6. How did they return? v.8

 

B. Think :

1. What lesson do the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh give us?

2. What warning did Joshua give them as they left?

3. Why would that warning be necessary?

 

C. Comment :

     The bulk of the land had been taken (but not all, see Joshua 13:1-7). All that now remains is for the individual tribes to subdue any remaining inhabitants in their particular regions now the main fighting had finished. So Joshua now releases the fighting men of the three tribes whose inheritance was on the other side of the River Jordan.

     Joshua first COMMENDS them for their loyalty and faithfulness as they have remained and steadfastly fought alongside the rest of Israel .

      Then he COMMANDS them to ensure they keep close to the Lord. There will be a temptation for them to feel cut off from the rest of Israel , being on the other side of the Jordan valley, so they must hold fast to the Lord (see remainder of this chapter).

       Finally Joshua BLESSES them as he sends them on their way.

      It is clear that their remaining with the main fighting force has brought them great prosperity, as they too have been allowed to take plunder as they have cleared the land. There is a separating of the ways here, accompanied no doubt by a measure of sadness, but that also brings tensions (do read the rest of the chapter).

 

D. Application?

1. Loyalty to the "body of Christ" requires commitment to people. Do we

     have that sense?

2. It is easy to feel cut off from others and alone, and that makes us

     vulnerable to temptation.

  

Study No.29 : Leaders Together : Joshua 23:1-16

A. Find out :

  

1. Why did Joshua summon the leaders? v.1,2

2. What did he instruct them to do? v.6

3. What did he warn them not to do? v.7

4. What would be the consequences if they did that? v.12,13

5. Of what was he aware? v.14

6. What did he warn them about? v.15,16

 

B. Think :

1. What provoked Joshua to get the leaders together?

2. What was his primary concern?

3. Why?

 

C. Comment :

     Joshua was now old and very much aware that he is at the end of his life. He still has a sense of responsibility for the people and so he calls the leaders together to ensure he has discharged his responsibility towards them. Observe first the CIRCUMSTANCES: Israel are the main possessors of the land but there are still small pockets of the old inhabitants left. Observe next Joshua's CONCERN: that Israel might mix with these people and start worshipping their gods. Observe thirdly Joshua's COMMAND: to stick close to God by holding fast to His written word. Observe finally Joshua's CHALLENGE: if you don't do this, just as you have received the blessings of God's promises, so you will also receive the curses of God's promises.

     In all this there is a reminder of how it works with OUR lives. As Christians we now have a new life, but there are still remnants of the old life, the flesh life, that are there in the background that will rise up if we give them the chance. The command that comes to us is to put to death daily the remnants of the old life and to rely daily on the Lord's word and the Lord's Spirit for our provision.

 

D. Application?

1. Redeemed yes, but watch out for the old life that the enemy tries to

     resurrect in us!

2. Allow the Spirit to bring life to the word!

Study No.30 : Reminder! : Joshua 24:1-13

A. Find out :

  

1. Who does Joshua gather together again? v.1

2. What is he bringing to them? v.2

3. What part of their history is covered by v.3,4?

4. What part is covered by v.5-7?

5. What part is covered by v.8-10?

6. What part is covered by v.11-13?

 

B. Think :

1. Why is Joshua speaking?

2. What do you think is the purpose?

3. What does it say about Israel ?

 

C. Comment :

     Often in the New Testament, we see Jesus or the New Testament writers referring back to "the Scriptures". The history of Israel was very important, it was the history of the dealings of God with a specific group of people. Here, in these closing days of Joshua's life, we find the Lord gives him prophecy, the forth-telling of the acts of God. The Lord is reminding the people that they are what they are because of what He has done for them. First he reminds them of their origins with Abraham, then of their deliverance by God from Egypt by a great miracle, then the way He brought them to the promised land, overcoming pagan kings on the way, and finally how He had given them the land, overcoming all the pagan idol-worshipping inhabitants.

     This people need to be reminded that they have the land purely because of all of God's miraculous provision for them. We, similarly, need reminding that as Christians we are what we are, the sons of God, purely because of what HE has done in Jesus. It is a gift of God to an undeserving people, this land that they have and the kingdom we experience. That is mercy and grace!

 

D. Application?

1. We need to remind ourselves, by reading His word again and again, just

     what God has done, both for Israel and for us.

2. Thank Him today for those things.

Study No.31 : The End! : Joshua 24:14-33

A. Find out :

 

1. What does Joshua challenge them to do? v.14,15

2. What was their response? v.16-18

3. Why did he tell them to "think again"? v.19,20

4. What was their response? v.21

5. What more did Joshua do for them? v.25

6. How did he establish a witness or reminder to what they had said? v.26,27

B. Think :

1. What was Joshua's main concern?

2. How many times did Israel say they would serve the Lord?

3. Why was Joshua doing this at this time? (see 23:14 / 24:29)

 

C. Comment :

     Joshua's end is near. His final act is to call the nation to follow the Lord. You make the choice, he says, whether you will serve the Lord or serve idols. Me and my family will serve the Lord whatever you do! What a statement of faith is verse 15c! When the people respond positively to the challenge, Joshua reminds them that God is holy and challenges them not to make any hasty commitment. Again and again they affirm their allegiance to the Lord. This passage is a classic illustration and reminder that God doesn't want hasty, casual commitment, but well thought out dedication (read also Luke 14:28 -33).

     Joshua then ensures that the people understand the Lord's requirements (Laws) and confirms in the book what has just happened. To make even more sure he erects a monument to remind them of this day. Having done that he has done all he can to ensure he leaves Israel as they were when they were put into his care originally, following the Lord. At a hundred and ten this faithful warrior of God departs to be with his Lord for ever. His testimony has been sure to the end!

 

D. Application?

1. Have we, in our commitment to the Lord, counted the cost and still said,

     "Yes, Lord, I'm all yours"?

2. Will we hold true to the end?

RECAP No.5   "Final Words of Testimony"   

SUMMARY :  

      

In these last 4 studies we have seen:

- Joshua releasing the fighting men from the tribes from the east

   of Jordan to go home

- Joshua calling the people together at the end of his life to:

- warn them against mixing with remaining

   inhabitants

- warn them that they will be cursed if they do

- remind them of all that God has done

- challenge them to follow the Lord only

- The people responding that they will follow the Lord alone

- The death of Joshua at the age of one hundred and ten

 

COMMENT :

      At the end of the main battles for the land it is at peace and so the warriors from across the Jordan are released. Joshua calls his people together and, as if to discharge his responsibility towards them, he warns and challenges them to remain true to God.

     This aged saint remains true to the end but even more than that he ensures he leaves the nation committing themselves to the Lord. He can do no more, it is now down to them.

 

LESSONS :

1. Loyalty means commitment to others

2. We need constantly to be on the watch for the old life trying to regain power

3. The Holy Spirit with the word of God is the means to achieve this when we have

     committed ourselves to it.

4. We are what we are purely by the grace of God.

5. The Lord wants us to be careful to count the cost when we commit ourselves to Him.

 

PRAY :

     Thank the Lord for the life that is yours, commit yourself to overcome, with His help, any wrong in your life, and thoughtfully place your life entirely in His hands for the future. Let Joshua be your example to hold fast faithfully, right to the end.

SUMMARY  

In these studies we have seen:

A. The Lord

- declaring His purposes to Joshua

- opening the Jordan to allow Israel into the land

- giving Joshua the strategy to take Jericho

- standing back and allowing Israel to be defeated at Ai because

   of Achan's sin

- fighting for Israel in defence of Gibeon

- enabling Israel to overcome all their adversaries

 

B. Joshua

- receiving guidance from the Lord

- leading Israel to victory over the whole land

- failing to check with the Lord how they should take Ai

- failing to check with the Lord when the Gibeonites come

- leaving Israel in right relationship with the Lord and occupiers

   of the land.

 

C. Israel

- responding to Joshua's leadership throughout

- thus defeating all their adversaries

- yet being casual about sin

- yet being casual about their enemies

- having to learn to rely on the Lord

- being challenged to go on following the Lord

D. Canaan 's Inhabitants

- mostly resisting the Lord and his purposes

- Rahab becoming an Israelite

- the Gibeonites becoming servants of God and Israel

- most of the rest being destroyed

CONCLUSION 

From these studies we should note the following lessons declared:

1. The PURPOSE of God declared

- to give Israel the land

- to clear it of all the inhabitants

- God wants to give us His kingdom (Lk 12:32 )

2. The ENCOURAGEMENT of God given

- at the beginning to Joshua

- again and again before each battle

- He wants to encourage us for every conflict (1 Cor 14:3)

3. The HOLINESS of God revealed

- in judgement on the ungodly inhabitants of the land

- in removal of blessing and protection when sin enter the nation

- we are called to be holy (1 Pet 1:15 ,16)

4. The GRACE of God seen

- in His choice of Israel and His constant enabling

- in His acceptance of Rahab

- in His acceptance of Gibeon

- His grace is available for us (2 Cor 9:8)

5. The WISDOM of God seen

- in differing strategies for each battle

- He will give us wisdom when we ask (Jas 1:5)

6. The POWER of God displayed

- in the crossing of the Jordan and the fall of Jericho

- in the defeat of the 5 southern kings

- in His constant presence bringing victory.

- His power has been provided for our lives today (Eph 1:19 ,20)

7. The FOOLISHNESS of mankind

- in the opposition of the inhabitants

- in Achan's disobedience and Israel 's complacency at that point

- in Israel 's slowness to learn that they need to turn to God with

   every new situation

 

May we resolve NOT to be disobedient, complacent or slow to learn!

May we be those who DO enter fully into our inheritance

May we be those who do it as we follow our Lord in.