8 But you are TO HOLD FAST TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, as you have until now. Joshua 23
11 So be VERY CAREFUL TO LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD.
Some of the last words of Joshua to the leaders and the people of Israel. Good words for us to hang onto today.
We saw yesterday that even though the Eastern tribes had accumulated great wealth in the land of Canaan, yet they were determined to secure their relationship within the people of God. They valued that relationship for themselves and their children.
34 And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us – that the Lord is God. Joshua 22
Joshua knew he’d almost run his race and he wanted to encourage the people before he left them. There was more land that still remained to be taken.
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 HIMSELF DRIVE THEM OUT OF YOUR WAY. HE WILL PUSH THEM OUT BEFORE YOU, AND YOU WILL TAKE POSSESSION OF THEIR LAND, as the Lord your God promised you. Joshua 23
The Church today has taken some or even much of our available inheritance, but there is much that still remains to be taken and the coming generations will take this land for the Lord.
It’s interesting that Joshua’s encouragement is closely related to the words he received at the outset of his time of leadership.
6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Joshua 1
7 ‘Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Joshua 1
We need the same attitude and boldness that Israel had, but the battles to be fought and won today are different. I listened to a prophet this week live on the Internet with two friends on zoom telling them that an advert for his ministry was not him, but an AI image. They knew him well but hadn’t realised it was an image. I also heard a well known speaker on Elijahstreams, saying the Lord had told him, ‘NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THE TECHNOLOGY’.
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. Joshua 23:6
Same attitude for the times ahead, but very different battles. The great thing is that the same LORD WHO DEFEATED THE CANAANITES AND THE EGYPTIANS WILL DEFEAT THE WICKED WE FACE.
God bless and keep you. Immanuel, God is with us.