Pass on the Baton - Joshua 24 - September 24, 2006

Sunday School Lesson – Pass On The Baton – September 24, 2006

This is our final lesson in our series “Joshua on Leadership.”

The Israelites have journeyed into the Promised Land, conquered it and living there under the leadership of GOD and Joshua. Joshua realizes he is getting old and begins to prepare the people for the time he will go to be with the LORD. He prepares them for the time when they will have to rely upon the leadership of GOD.

To me here is the heart of this lesson:

The Israelites have conquered the Promised Land. The battles are over and they have the opportunity to live in the land and serve the LORD. GOD’S purpose for them was for them to be an example and witness to the rest of the world, so that other nations would seek and come to know the GOD of the Israelites. GOD had been THE ONE WHO had led them and revealed Himself to them. In leading them and revealing Himself through the various miracles, HE also revealed Himself to others and those they had conquered.

Joshua makes it abundantly clear to the Israelites what GOD requires of them for them to be HIS people. The people agree that they will serve the LORD. Joshua makes a new covenant with them and uses a stone, next to a mighty oak, which is next to the sanctuary, where GOD comes, to seal this new covenant. This stone will be a reminder for them and future generations about them agreeing to this new covenant.

Let’s compare this to our journey, as a Christian, into our Promised Land.

We have walled cities in our lives which can represent our habits, natures and false notions that need to be conquered. As the HOLY SPIRIT reveals the areas in our lives that need to be conquered and we are obedient; GOD shows us, that when we are obedient to HIM, there is victory and the land is conquered.
Once the battles are over and the land has been conquered, we are free to live in this land that is ours. It is the land where GOD wants us to dwell but for the purpose of serving HIM and to reveal HIM to those around us.

Once the battles are over, we still have to make choices. Do we continue to serve GOD or do we slip into complacency? We dwell in the Promised Land for the purpose of serving the LORD. We have been through many things in our lives and we know how GOD has helped us through them. We are now equipped, better than ever, to help others.

CHRIST in us is the hope of glory. We have the wonderful treasure of CHRIST within us, which the world seeks. Will others see CHRIST in us? Will we be the salt of the earth, so others will be thirsty for what we have? Will we reveal the light we have to others or will we hide the light?

As a Christian we have a new covenant with GOD and that covenant is through JESUS. The HOLY SPIRIT is a constant reminder of the rock that is our witness that we are HIS children.

As Christians, we must invest in our children, grandchildren, loved ones and those around us the rich heritage of dwelling in the Promised Land and what GOD expects of those who want to live there. It is important that we have prepared them for the time we are no longer with them. Such preparation will prepare them to continue to dwell in the Promised Land and help them prepare the next generation for living in the Promised Land.

When we were praying about our mission trip to Poland, the LORD gave us 2 Timothy 2:2 for our mission.

2 Timothy 2:2:
2 And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
The short version is “Each One Teach One.”

It is important that we invest, in others, what the LORD has revealed and invested in us. When we are no longer with them, they will carry on the LORD’S work and continue to grow in the LORD and walk with HIM. This is true at home or others places we may go to minister.

Our scripture is Joshua 24:1-33.

Our focus scripture is Joshua 24:13-18, 19-24, 25-27, 28-31. (Joshua 23:1-3 and 14-16 are for background.)

First let’s read Joshua 23:1-3 and 14-16 to set the stage for what is about to take place.

1 A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, Joshua was old, getting on in years. 2 So Joshua summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers, and said to them, “I am old, getting on in years, 3 and you have seen for yourselves everything the LORD your God did to all these nations on your account, because it was the LORD your God who was fighting for you.

14 “I am now going the way of all the earth,[3] and you know with all your heart and all your soul that none of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed. 15 Since every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come about, so He will bring on you every bad thing until He has annihilated you from this good land the LORD your God has given you. 16 If you break the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and worship other gods, and bow down to them, the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly disappear from this good land He has given you.”

Joshua is preparing the Israelites for his death.
Let’s read Joshua 24:13-18: (In verse 2 - 2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: then continues to give a review how GOD has cared for them from Abraham to that present day. Verse 13 is a transition verse that helps us better understand the scripture in today’s study.)

13 I (GOD) gave you a land you did not labor for, and cities you did not build, though you live in them; you are eating from vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.’
The Covenant Renewal
14 “Therefore, • fear the LORD and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship the LORD. 15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship the LORD, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD.” 16 The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the LORD to worship other gods! 17 For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, the place of slavery and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us all along the way we went and among all the peoples whose lands we traveled through. 18 The LORD drove out before us all the peoples, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will worship the LORD, because He is our God.”

Joshua reminds the Israelites of what GOD has done for them throughout the ages, therefore “fear” HIM and “worship” HIM in “sincerity” and “truth”.

Therefore refers back to all that GOD has done for them. They have been told and have witnessed HIS mighty hand at work in their lives, “Therefore” pay special attention to what comes next.

“Fear” is a sense of awe and a reverential respect for GOD.

“Worship” means to serve HIM and be obedient to HIM in whatever HE asks us to do. This requires us having an intimate loving relationship with our LORD.

“Sincerity” means wholeness, completeness, perfection, without any hidden thing.

“Truth” is faithfulness, total and complete commitment to our LORD.

Joshua is telling them that they must worship GOD with all their heart and soul. They must be completely dedicated to HIM and cannot have any thing in their lives that will compromise their relationship to the LORD. GOD wants dedicated, obedient followers. GOD does not want people that sit on the fence. This reminds me of:

Revelation 3:15-16:

15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit[14]you out of My mouth.


GOD says being lukewarm makes HIM sick. Make a choice, be either “Hot” or “Cold”. Joshua is telling the people that if they choose to worship GOD that means no compromise.

They must get “rid of”, “throw away”, “abandon” any thing that can compromise their relationship with GOD. Some of the people had held onto some of the idols and pagan practices of their ancestors. It is interesting that they had conquered the Promised Land but they still had artifacts from their ancestors. The people had to get rid of these artifacts and practices.

This is something we need to be aware of in our lives as well.

Our heritage can “bring in” or “open us up to”, both good and bad, natures that can influence our lives. The bad natures, that compromise our relationship with our LORD, must be dealt with and cast out of our lives.

We embrace superstitions, horoscopes, fortune tellers, idols, prejudices, fears, false notions and many others things that compromise our relationship with GOD.

Do we still embrace practices that compromise our relationship with GOD, which influences others, such as our children, to do the same thing?

As you know the real estate market is going south in some areas. Some who were making lots of money flipping houses, all of a sudden are finding it hard to move their real estate investments.

Just this week, I read about the practice of burying a stature of St. Joseph upside down, some where on the property to be sold. When you do this, the property sells. So people are buying these statures and burying them. Even today many embrace the practice of compromising and doing what ever is necessary to get what we want. Often we say, “Well if it works, why not?” Who sells the property? Does the end justify the means? These are questions some Christians are faced with and have to choose.

We can even use Christianity to accomplish what we want. I know years ago some people had a house that would not sell and the Christian realtor knelt in the front yard of the house, by the "FOR Sale” sign and prayed. The house sold in a few days. The words got out and guess what? If you want to sell your house you need to call “so and so” because he has a direct line to heaven. Some even thought that praying in the front yard was the right place to pray.

Praying is good but what happened was some took the person’s action as a formula to sell their house or property. If a property did not sell quickly, then you had to kneel or certainly go to the front yard and pray for the house to sell.

Do not take this wrong. Prayer is important and prayer is important for all areas of our lives, including selling property. Prayer becomes a problem, when we try to use a formula to get GOD to do what we want done.

In verse 15, Joshua urges the people to choose who or what they will worship. Who or what we worship is left up to each of us. GOD never removes our right to choose. HE wants us to choose HIM because HE first loved us and sent HIS SON to die for us.

Joshua gives them three (3) choices of who they will worship:
- The LORD - YAHWEH.
- The gods from their ancestors – heritage – ancestral baggage.
- The gods of the inhabitants in the Promised Land that they had not destroyed, as commanded by GOD.

Joshua tells them what choice he has made. He and his family will serve the LORD – YAHWEH.
Joshua takes a stand and makes it public.

The people say they will worship the LORD, also.

Then Joshua makes an interesting statement.

Let’s read Joshua 24:19-24:

19 But Joshua told the people, “You will not be able to worship the LORD, because He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not remove your transgressions and sins. 20 If you abandon the LORD and worship foreign gods, He will turn against [you]* , harm you, and completely destroy you, after He has been good to you.” 21 “No!” the people answered Joshua. “We will worship the LORD.” 22 Joshua then told the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you yourselves have chosen to worship the LORD.” “We are witnesses,” they said. 23 “Then get rid of the foreign gods that are among you and offer your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 24 So the people said to Joshua, “We will worship the LORD our God and obey Him.”

This is an interesting statement by Joshua. He tells them that they are not able to worship the LORD because HE is Holy, is jealous and HE will not remove their transgressions and sins. This seems harsh. After all, they stated that they would worship the LORD.

The word’s Joshua uses gives us a clue about what he has in his mind.

“Holy” – GOD is Holy and HE expects those who worship HIM to be Holy.

“Jealous” – GOD is jealous and HE expects those who worship HIM to be loyal to HIM as a wife is loyal to her husband. Any compromise on loyalty by worshipping idols will be considered as spiritual adultery by GOD.

“Transgressions” – Transgressions are considered willful, deliberate rebellion against GOD.

“Sin” – Sin is missing the mark of total faithfulness and obedience to GOD.

Joshua is saying, “I hear what you are saying “BUT”, I know your hearts.

Joshua knows there is a problem with their hearts. Why? Because they still have idols. One cannot be too careful. We still need our “rabbit’s foot” or “four leaf clover” or our favorite “idol.”

The people are saying the words but are they really understanding and committed to do what they are saying? Are they willing to not only follow the LORD themselves but are they willing to prepare future generations to be committed to GOD? History tells us that they did not prepare the future generations to be committed to the LORD and later generations suffered the consequences.

Many times we give lip service to the LORD. We say wonderful prayers and sing songs that say we will give it all to JESUS or follow HIM any where, but, do we really mean the words we say or sing? We say the words but when it comes to being obedient and putting what we say into action, do we miss the mark? Do our children and others around us see a difference in our lives? Do we live such that others see CHRIST in us? Are we preparing our loved ones and children to serve our LORD?

The people respond that they are sincere and will serve the LORD.
In fact they did serve the LORD during the lifetime of Joshua and the elders but after that, they did not.

Joshua tells them their words will be a witness against them.

Does this remind you of scripture in the book of Matthew about the final judgment?

Matthew 7: 21-23: JESUS is speaking.

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but [only]* the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’[9] [10]

Let’s read Joshua 24:25-27:

25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people at Shechem and established a statute and ordinance for them. 26 Joshua recorded these things in the book of the law of God; he also took a large stone and set it up there under the oak next to the sanctuary of the LORD. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone—it will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD said to us, and it will be a witness against you, so that you will not deny your God.”

Joshua records the fact that the Israelites agree to worship the LORD with all their hearts and are willing to get rid of their gods. Then Joshua takes a large stone and places it under the oak.

Here again we have a stone of remembrance placed under the oak, next to the sanctuary as a witness to their covenant.

JESUS is our rock and HE is the witness that mankind will be measured against on the Day of Judgment.

It is interesting that the stone was placed under the oak. I think the tree is a foreshadow of the deliverance that GOD will provide for all who accept CHRIST WHO died upon the tree, the wooden cross for our sins. As a Christian, CHRIST is our rock and covenant. HE is the visible witness for all mankind to consider and make a decision. HE is the visible rock to remind all mankind there is a new covenant. HE reminds those who do not know HIM of their need for HIM and HE has chosen us to be HIS representatives to a lost world.

Let’s read Joshua 24:28-31:

28 Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.
Burial of Three Leaders
29 After these things, the LORD’s servant, Joshua son of Nun, died at the age of 110. 30 They buried him in his allotted territory at Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim[4] north of Mount Gaash. 31 Israel worshiped the LORD throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua, and who had experienced all the works the LORD had done for Israel.

Joshua sent the people back to their normal family life. They honored their covenant for the rest of Joshua’s lifetime and the lifetimes of the elders.

Did the people, who had journeyed to the Promised Land, stress and teach the importance of serving the LORD with all their hearts, minds and souls to the next generations?
Let’s go back and examine several things. The people brought gods from their past with them to the Promised Land. Joshua told them they had to get rid of them.

GOD had conquered the Promised Land for the Israelites to dwell in and given them victory but they had to deal with the gods they brought with them.

GOD can help us conquer and live in the Promised Land. But in order for us and our family to dwell throughout generations in the Promised Land, we must get rid of all baggage that keeps us from serving the LORD.

Joshua sent the people back to their normal lives where they were free to choose how they would live and how they would prepare their children for the future. We have the same opportunity. The scripture makes us a promise in Proverbs 22:6 - 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.