Joshua 23

We are coming not only to the end of the book of Joshua in these final two chapters, but also to the end of the conquest generation, and to the end of the life on earth of this great man. When an admirable leader of a great generation has some final words to say, it is important to listen to him.

Joshua reminded the nation of the amazing acts of God that they had seen with their own eyes. They did not receive the land of Canaan through their brilliance or strength. Taking this land from one group of people and giving it to Israel was God's idea, and He was the One who had accomplished it. God fought against the Canaanites. As Joshua said, “It is the Lord your God who fought for you.”

When we consider the land that our Joshua, Jesus the Messiah, has won for us, we must admit that He has fought for us. We could never have accomplished what He alone has done for us.

Joshua also spoke to Israel about the future. There would be work to be accomplished in the days beyond his life. The land had already been allotted to the tribes based on the promise of God. What about the remaining inhabitants? “The LORD your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the LORD your God promised you.”

Was it right for God to do this conquest at all? Should we condemn God for taking the land from one group of people and giving it to another? These thoughts may enter our minds when we look at the history of Israel. But if Almighty God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, is not able to make this determination, who can? Who are we to judge God? There is much evil in the world since the sin of Adam took place. God is grieved by that. So much misery has come from that first sin. Remember what Jesus did at the tomb of Lazarus. He wept. Remember that God, with all His holiness and love, is determined to work such a fullness of salvation upon the earth that it will overwhelm this misery with perfect goodness and love. This is what He has won for us at the terrible price of His own Son. Any present distress that we face, or any historic affliction such as the one recorded here in the history of Israel, is not the end of God's decree. It is the middle of His story. The end is very good. We are wrong to accuse God of evil. He gave His Son for us.

We should instead give very serious attention to our own disobedience, and do what Joshua tells Israel to do, appropriate to our own place in the history of God's covenant love. We are not under the Old Testament system of worship or governance, but the Lord still calls us to obey the Ten Commandments, and to consider what the whole of the Scriptures instruct us about the way of love shown to us in the cross of Christ. We should not judge God for the conquest. We should see our own sin, and follow the Lord of love.

In particular, we must take to heart what Joshua tells Israel about the danger of marriages with those who do not share our love for the God of Israel, and for His Son, Jesus. This is not just an Old Testament law. The apostle Paul warns the church that our marriages should be in the Lord. Our concern today is not whether two people are Jews or not Jews. Our concern is that Christian marriage should be for those who are both in the Lord.

Furthermore, we need to follow the worship that God has given to us in the Scriptures, and not add other ceremonies from the practices of the religions of the world. The simple meeting of covenant renewal including singing, prayer, the reading and preaching of the word, testifying to our faith, sharing of our needs and our lives before God, blessing the Lord and receiving His blessing, the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper... All this with dignity, reverence, and good order, this is the way that God has revealed for us to worship Him. Within the general directions of the Word we have have much flexibility that allows us plenty of freedom to worship the Lord in a style that speaks to various people groups in a multitude of times and places while still being obedient to God. We do not need to turn to other religions for inspiration for worship practices. We have the Word of God. That is enough to direct us.

“You shall cling to the Lord your God.” The church is married to Him. We do not want to date other divinities. “Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.” To ignore these words is to bring trouble upon the church and upon yourself.

We have been given a far better land than Canaan through the final Joshua who is now at the right hand of the Father. We have heaven through the blood of Christ. Don't judge God. It will not lead to blessing. Love the Lord, and follow in the way of the cross.