Joshua
chapter 23 begins Joshua’s final address to the nation. His
singular purpose seems to be to remind the nation that in order to
avoid the snares and danger in the land they must remain faithful to
God. The chapter begins, “After
a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all
their enemies“.
We are not told how long, but after the wars of conquest, the nation
experiences great peace. Joshua begins, “I
am old and well advanced in my years. You yourselves have seen
everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your
sake… God fought for you“.
He urges them to remember that God will continue to be faithful to
drive out their enemies, “He
will push them out from before you and you will take possession of
their land, as the Lord your God promised you“.
But Joshua warns the nation to remain faithful to honor God. “Be
careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses.”
Joshua explains, “Do
not associate with the nations that remain among you; do not invoke
the names of their gods… do not serve them or bow down to them.
But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God as you have until now“.
Joshua again reminds the nation, “The
Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations… no one
is able to withstand you… God fights for you just as He promised.
So be careful to love the Lord your God“.
Joshua
is urgently trying to communicate the important lessons he has
learned. “Now
I am about to go to the way of all the earth…you know in your heart
and soul that not one of the good promises the Lord your God gave you
has failed”.
Next, Joshua explains to the nation, “If
you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these
nations… and if you intermarry with them… they will become snares
and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes until
you perish from this good land“.
Listen to the personal words Joshua uses, “If
you violate the covenant of the Lord… and go and serve other gods
and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and
you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you“.
Joshua’s points are that God is ALWAYS faithful to us, and that
the God of the Hebrews is the one and only God. He wants an
exclusive and personal relationship with each of us. Our God is a
jealous God.
In
a Christian marriage vow, a man and a woman make promises to each
other, and to God. These promises include intimacy and exclusivity.
The privileges and intimacy of marriage are not to be shared with
anyone outside that marriage. In Genesis chapter 15, God made a
covenant with Abraham. And we read simply, “Abraham
believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”
(Genesis 15:6). God faithfully renewed His vows to each of the sons
of Abraham and eventually to Moses. Ephesians chapter 5 explains our
roles in marriage are to reflect the relationship we are to have with
God. “Husbands
love your wives as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for
her“.
Jesus made a promise to each believer that He would return for His
“bride” that we would spend eternity together. “If
I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you
to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also”
(John 14:3). What ever has happened in your past, remember, “If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”
(1 John 1:9). May you experience the unwavering love of Christ
today.