A Departing Leader

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Opening Prayer

Dear God, shine the light of Your face upon me and make me a light for You in the world.

Read Joshua 23:1–11

^[1] After a long time had passed and the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man, ^[2] summoned all Israel-their elders, leaders, judges and officials-and said to them: “I am very old. ^[3] You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you. ^[4] Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain-the nations I conquered-between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea in the west. ^[5] The LORD your God himself will push them out for your sake. He will drive them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you. ^[6] “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. ^[7] Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. ^[8] But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now. ^[9] “The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. ^[10] One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. ^[11] So be very careful to love the LORD your God.

Meditate

“The cause of backsliding (falling away from the Lord) is nearly always slack abiding” (Bryan Green, 1901–1993). An important lesson not followed by the Israelites.

Think Further

Much time had passed since Jericho’s fall. Joshua was now old (1,2). Like

Moses (Deut. 31:2), Joshua needed to pass on responsibilities and ensure that the next generation

was faithful to God. He summoned the leaders and reminded them that “it was the Lord your

God who fought for you” (3,10). Joshua was concerned about two matters.

First, he feared that Israel would fail to possess all the land. They may trust their own strength

and cleverness and forget to seek, trust and obey God. Though the Lord had given them rest from

enemies, there was still work to be done, battles to be fought and inheritance to be claimed (as

the tribes were left to possess specific areas). The Israelites had to keep their eyes on God.

Joshua promised them that the “Lord your God himself will push them out for your sake” (5).

Second, Joshua feared that they would copy the sinful ways of the Canaanites and fall into

apostasy and grieve the Lord. They must be careful not to swear by the Canaanite gods, nor serve

them, nor submit to them (7). Instead they were to “hold fast to the Lord” (8); the Hebrew word

is also translated as “leave” (Gen. 2:24, KJV) and “lung” (Ruth 1:14). It is a strong and intimate

term that speaks of a sturdy, faithful and deeply cherished relationship (Deut. 10:20; Psa. 63:8).

The summary of Joshua’s farewell instructions is “Be very strong” and “be very careful” (6,11).

The Israelites were not to shrink back from driving their enemies from the land so that they could

possess what God had promised them. They were to be strong because God was strong. Also,

they were to be very careful not to let Canaan get into them even as they were getting into

Canaan.

Much time had passed since Jericho’s fall. Joshua was now old (1,2). Like Moses (Deut. 31:2), Joshua needed to pass on responsibilities and ensure that the next generation was faithful to God. He summoned the leaders and reminded them that “it was the Lord your God who fought for you” (3,10). Joshua was concerned about two matters.
First, he feared that Israel would fail to possess all the land. They may trust their own strength and cleverness and forget to seek, trust and obey God. Though the Lord had given them rest from enemies, there was still work to be done, battles to be fought and inheritance to be claimed (as the tribes were left to possess specific areas). The Israelites had to keep their eyes on God. Joshua promised them that the “Lord your God himself will push them out for your sake” (5). Second, Joshua feared that they would copy the sinful ways of the Canaanites and fall into apostasy and grieve the Lord. They must be careful not to swear by the Canaanite gods, nor serve them, nor submit to them (7). Instead they were to “hold fast to the Lord” (8); the Hebrew word is also translated as “leave” (Gen. 2:24, KJV) and “lung” (Ruth 1:14). It is a strong and intimate
term that speaks of a sturdy, faithful and deeply cherished relationship (Deut. 10:20; Psa. 63:8).
The summary of Joshua’s farewell instructions is “Be very strong” and “be very careful” (6,11). The Israelites were not to shrink back from driving their enemies from the land so that they could possess what God had promised them. They were to be strong because God was strong. Also, they were to be very careful not to let Canaan get into them even as they were getting into Canaan.

Apply

What spiritual battles are you fighting, especially within you under God’s leadership and with his strength? How careful are you about not allowing the world to get into you?

Closing prayer

Lord, infuse me with Your strength and wisdom. Without You, all my battles will be lost. I claim the victory in You.

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