Bible Study - Joshua (6) - Call Others to Step Forward - Joshua 24:14-18, 24-26. - July 12, 2015

Bible Study – Joshua (6) – Call Others to Step Forward – July 12, 2015

This is our sixth (6th) and final lesson in our series entitled “Be Strong and Courageous: Leadership Lessons from Joshua.”

Our focus scripture is Joshua 24:14-18, 24-26.

Leaders set the example and call others to follow GOD.

Joshua is coming to the end of his life. He was preparing the Israelites for his earthly departure. He had faithfully followed GOD and GOD had given him and the Israelites success according to HIS plan and purpose. He reviewed the journey of the Israelites from Abraham’s father, Terah, to their present day. He cautioned them about being exposed to other gods and forms of worship. He wanted them to remember the One True GOD, Yahweh, because HE and HE alone gave them victory. Let’s explore!

Joshua died at the age of 110.

Let’s read Joshua 24:1-13: (Background – Joshua reviewed the long journey of the Israelites with the One True GOD, Yahweh.)

1 Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem and summoned Israel’s elders, leaders, judges, and officers, and they presented themselves before God. 2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the region beyond the Euphrates River, led him throughout the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave the hill country of Seir to Esau as a possession, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. 5 “‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron; I plagued Egypt by what I did there and afterward I brought you out. 6 When I brought your fathers out of Egypt and you reached the •Red Sea, the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen as far as the sea. 7 Your fathers cried out to the Lord, so He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea over them, engulfing them. Your own eyes saw what I did to Egypt. After that, you lived in the wilderness a long time. 8 “‘Later, I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan. They fought against you, but I handed them over to you. You possessed their land, and I annihilated them before you. 9 Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, 10 but I would not listen to Balaam. Instead, he repeatedly blessed you, and I delivered you from his hand. 11 “‘You then crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The people of Jericho—as well as the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites —fought against you, but I handed them over to you. 12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, and it drove out the two Amorite kings before you. It was not by your sword or bow. 13 I 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.’

This background connects to our focus scripture with the word “therefore.”

GOD directs our lives and give us success when we obediently obey HIM. Success is not defined as the world defines success but as GOD defines success. Notice the number of times "I" was used and the "I" was GOD.
Pause and reflect on the times GOD has been involved in your life.

Let’s read Joshua 24:14-15:

14 “Therefore, • fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship • Yahweh. 15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, 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 Yahweh.”

The word “fear” in verse 14, carries the idea of reverence and honor because you, the Israelites, have witnessed and been a part of HIS work.

Joshua had built a personal, intimate relationship with GOD through obedient service. The question was, had the Israelites built that same personal relationship with GOD or was their faith placed in Joshua’s faith? This is a question all Christians need to ask themselves. Are they riding on someone else’s faith or their faith? If their faith was based upon someone else’s faith when he or she is gone, in what or whom will they place their faith?

Religion attempts to meet everyone’s needs. We see that today with the religious institutions trying to be politically correct rather than being obedient to GOD’S Word, the Bible. I am not implying that Christians are to bash those who sin because we are all sinners saved by grace. We are to love the sinner but hate the sin and Christians must call sin, sin. We do a great and eternal disservice when we do not take a stand against the things GOD calls sin.

Christians, America depends upon us to take a stand and not be a chameleon and blend in with the world. We who know the truth must reveal truth through the lives we live each day. Christians are to be the salt and the light. We are not to hide nor hide the truth. If we endorse an “anything goes society”, then we are endorsing sin and we will be held accountable to GOD for hiding the truth and the need for salvation. How else will those around us know truth from error? This is no easy task and it is not the popular thing to do. The Kingdom of GOD is open to all who confess their sins, repent, which means to stop committing the sin and place their faith in the One and Only JESUS CHRIST, Who paid, in full, the penalty for sin.

Do Christians sin? YES! They must confess their sins as well and stop sinning. GOD forgives, cleanses, chastises, as needed, and restores. Christians never lose their salvation but their rewards can be lost or compromised due to lack of obedience. Sin carries consequences for all.

Joshua challenged the Israelites to make a choice who they will serve, the One True GOD, Yahweh or some other gods. Joshua made it clear:  As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.”

The Israelites made their choice.

Let’s read Joshua 24:16-18:

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, out of 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.”

The Israelites made a quick decision and agreed “not to abandon the LORD to worship other gods!” They even restated what GOD had done for them. They confirmed that HE was “our GOD” which reveals ownership. They enjoyed what GOD had done for them physically. It seems that the Israelites had head knowledge and not heart knowledge of GOD. It is easy to mouth words that sound good to others but do these words come from an honest, sincere heart?

Let’s read Joshua 24:19-23:

19 But Joshua told the people, “You will not be able to worship Yahweh, 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 Yahweh.” “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.”

Joshua sensed that the people were not being honest before GOD. He quickly told them that GOD knew their hearts and they would not deceive GOD. They needed to be honest with GOD and HIS help for them to develop a genuine relationship with HIM. They all said “No! We will worship the LORD.”

Joshua, in essence, told them listen to what you have said because you will be held accountable. It seems that Joshua knew that there was a problem with their heart and response when he stated, “Then get rid of the foreign gods that are among you and offer your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

Let’s read Joshua 24:24-26:

24 So the people said to Joshua, “We will worship the Lord our God and obey Him.” 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.” 28 Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.

The Israelites made a verbal commitment “We will worship the Lord our God and obey Him.” They reiterated their commitment to GOD. So Joshua established “statute and ordinance” or “decrees and judgment/justice” for them. This was likely a covenant renewal rather than establishing a new covenant.

It seems that Joshua gave the Israelites a set of guidelines based upon the law and ordinances to render judgment and ultimately justice, when violated. This was to keep the Israelites focus upon GOD. HIS desire was for Israel to live and worship HIM and be a witness to the world. To obediently serve GOD requires responsibility and accountability. The Israelites agreed to serve GOD. So Joshua memorialized their commitment by making a covenant for the people at Shechem in the presence of the tabernacle or the presence of GOD.

Shechem had been an important city in Canaan. During the period of time following the successful occupation of the Promised Land, the tabernacle was located in Shechem and represented the presence of GOD. Abram had passed by the oak of Morel near Shechem as recorded in Genesis 12:6-7:

6 Abram passed through the land to the site of Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your • offspring.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.

A covenant was established. In the Old Testament the word “covenant” was generally referred to as “cutting a covenant.” The word “covenant” comes from a Hebrew word which means “to cut.” Covenants were often confirmed by sacrificing an animal by cutting the animal in half and those agreeing to the covenant walking between the split halves. This was a graphic example of the two parties coming together as one and in unity and in agreement.

A covenant between two unequal parties is called a “suzerainty covenant.” This is the type of covenant GOD made with HIS people. Joshua was the intermediary, much like Moses, and urged the Israelites to renew their commitment to GOD. GOD had not changed HIS commitment to the Israelites. It was the Israelites who needed to rededicate themselves to GOD.

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. 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 had made his commitment to worship Yahweh, so he included himself in the covenant.

Joshua did all he could physically to get the Israelites to build a genuine relationship with GOD. In John 4:23-24, we read: (JESUS spoke these words.)
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

It is impossible to truly worship GOD physically. HE knows our hearts and we cannot fool HIM. We still worship other gods and have our idols such as greed, jealousy, prejudice, fame, stuff and the list goes on that we need to confess to GOD and get rid of. This was Joshua’s message to the Israelites.  

This is GOD’S message to each of us today. GOD sent HIS only Son, JESUS, Who willingly gave HIS life that all who place their faith in HIM, will be cleansed of all sin and receive eternal life through the miracle of rebirth. Once we are born-again, we can worship GOD in Spirit and truth. Have you asked JESUS to forgive you of your sins and asked HIM to come into your life? If not, now is that opportunity and the opportunity to experience worshiping GOD in Spirit and Truth.

Joshua was a true leader whose success was built upon the obedient worship of GOD. He did not sweep issues under the table, so-to-speak, but dealt with them. HE trusted GOD’S leadership and made his decisions accordingly. He was organized, delegated to others and held them accountable. When he suspected a break in unity, he addressed it. Open communication solved a potential major problem. He prepared the people he led for his departure. He knew that their relationship with GOD was vital and he did all he could to implant that in their minds. He knew that their continued worship of GOD would depend upon them and if they didn’t they would suffer the consequences. Decide this day who you will worship! Blessings!!!