Joshua 22-24
Ultimate Choice:
Whom Will You Serve

Psalm 35:1-10 Let God Fight Your Battles

1.“Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.3.Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, "I am your salvation. "4.Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor....7.For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.8....Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.9.My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in His salvation.10.All my bones shall say, "Yahweh, who is like You, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him;

Observation

35:1-10.

Blameless believer beseeches God to fight his unjust enemies, turning the tables on them. And He saves His servant and prospers him/her.

Application

When facing overwhelming odds, remember that you and God are a majority.

Prayer

Mighty Warrior, I praise You for fighting my battles when I am righteous in Your sight. Amen.

Proverbs 10:8-11 Can People Live on What Comes Out of Your Mouth?

8.“The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.9.He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.10.One winking with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.11.The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Observation

10:8-11.

I found verse 11 doing my first study on speech, and asked myself the title question. I cut my sarcasm by 82.7%.

Application

If God's word is in my heart, words that give life will come out of my mouth.

See

Lk 6:45...for out of the overflow of the heart, his mouth speaks.

Prayer

Lord, help me walk and talk and do that others may live. Amen.

Joshua 22-24 Ultimate Choice: Whom Will You Serve

The final chapters of the book. Make sure you get to 24:15 and make the right choice.

Joshua 22 Mission Accomplished and Misunderstanding

1.Then Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,2.and said to them, "You have kept all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you."3.You have not abandonded your brothers, but have performed the duty of the commandment of Yahweh your God.4.Now Yahweh your God has given rest to your brothers, as he spoke to them. Therefore now return and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan.5.Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.6.So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went to their tents.7.he blessed them,8.saying, "Return with much wealth to your tents, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, with brass, with iron, and with very much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers."10.the children of Reuben Gad and Manasseh built an altar by the Jordan12.When the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.13.The children of Israel sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,14.and with him ten princes...16."Thus says the whole congregation of Yahweh, ‘What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following Yahweh, in that you have built yourselves an altar, to rebel this day against Yahweh?21.Then the children of Reuben,Gad and Manasseh answered22."The Mighty one, God, Yahweh, the Mighty one, God, Yahweh, he knows; and Israel shall know...25....your children might make our children cease from fearing Yahweh.26.Therefore we said, ‘Let’s now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice;27.but it will be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may perform the service of Yahweh before him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings’; that your children may not tell our children ‘You have no portion in Yahweh.’29."Far be it from us that we should rebel against Yahweh, and turn away this day from following Yahweh, to build an altar for burnt offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of Yahweh our God that is before his tabernacle!"30.When Phinehas the priest, and the princes heard the word, it pleased them well.31.Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, "Today we know that Yahweh is in the midst of us, because you have not committed this trespass against Yahweh. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of Yahweh."33.The thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God...34.The children of Reuben and the children of Gad named the altar "A Witness Between us that Yahweh is God."

Observations

22:1-8.

The trans-Jordan tribes (the ones who settled east of the Jordan River because of the pasture land) totally fulfilled their obligations to help the other tribes conquer the land west of the Jordan in accord with their agreement with Moses (Numbers 32).

22:5. A far cry from “let go and let God”. Note all that goes into an intimate, blessable relationship with God.

22:10-20. The trans-Jordan tribes build a memorial altar, but it looks like they are worshiping contrary to God's revelation, so all the other tribes read them the riot act.
22:21-31.

Because God was at work (v31) unity is restored. The trans-Jordan tribes didn't take offense over the accusation that they had rebelled, but explained the altar was not for sacrifices but a witness/testimony that the trans-Jordan tribes had sacrifice privileges west of the Jordan.

Application

Peaceably finding out the facts before making rash decisions preserved God glorifying unity.

Prayer

Mighty God, may I be diligent to walk in harmony with You and with others who have the same purpose. Amen.

Joshua 23 Unwavering Courage Needed to Obey Correctly

1.When Yahweh had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,2.Joshua called for all Israel...3.You have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is Yahweh your God who has fought for you.4.Behold, I have allotted to you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes...5.Yahweh your God will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight. You shall possess their land, as Yahweh your God spoke to you.6.Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left;7.that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them;8.but hold fast to Yahweh your God, as you have done to this day.9.For Yahweh has driven great and strong nations out from before you. But as for you, no man has stood before you to this day.10.One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is Yahweh your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you.11.Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love Yahweh your God.12.But if you do at all go back, and hold fast to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you;13.know for a certainty that Yahweh your God will no longer drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap to you, a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you.14.Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which Yahweh your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it.15.It shall happen that as all the good things have come on you of which Yahweh your God spoke to you, so Yahweh will bring on you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you,16.when you disobey the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them. Then the anger of Yahweh will be kindled against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which he has given to you.

Observations

23:6. Obedience isn't always easy. Great strength and courage are often needed to go against the tide.

23:11-16.

It should be really obvious by now that God changes His posture toward His people based upon their obedience or disobedience. Just like all the good stuff happened when they obeyed, so all the evil stuff will happen if they disobey.

Application

Don't give your allegiance to anyone or anything other than the Creator God, who always keeps His promises to bless or curse.

Prayer

God may I be courageous in following You, so You will fight my battles and bless rather than destroy me. Amen.

Joshua 24 Ultimate Choice: Whom Will You Serve

1.Joshua gathered all the tribes2.Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Your fathers lived of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor: and they served other gods.3.I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.4.I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau Mount Seir, to possess it. Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.5.I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did in its midst: and afterward I brought you out.6.I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and you came to the sea. The Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horsemen to the Red Sea.7.When they cried out to Yahweh, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea on them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt: and you lived in the wilderness many days.8.I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that lived beyond the Jordan: and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand. You possessed their land; and I destroyed them from before you.9.Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. He sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you;10.but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand.11.You went over the Jordan, and came to Jericho. The men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I delivered them into your hand.12.I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; not with your sword, nor with your bow.13.I gave you a land whereon you had not labored, and cities which you didn’t build, and you live in them. You eat of vineyards and olive groves which you didn’t plant.’14.Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him completely and faithfully. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh.15."If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, CHOOSE this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh."16.The people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods";17.for it is Yahweh our God who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way in which we went, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed.18.Yahweh drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve Yahweh; for he is our God.19.Joshua said to the people, "You can’t serve Yahweh; for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins."20.If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after he has done you good.21.The people said to Joshua, "No; but we will serve Yahweh."22.Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen Yahweh yourselves, to serve him." They said, "We are witnesses."23."Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel."24.The people said to Joshua, "We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice."25.So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.26.Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Yahweh.27.Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of Yahweh which he spoke to us. It shall be therefore a witness against you, lest you deny your God."28.So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.29.It happened after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being one hundred and ten years old.30.They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.31.Israel served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of Yahweh, that he had worked for Israel.32.They buried the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. They became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.33.Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim.

Observations

24:1-13. God could have eliminated a lot of pages with this concise history lesson. However, He emphasized certain things repeatedly because some folks are slow to learn.

24:14-16.

God gives people the choice to serve Him or not. We're not robots, or rocks, but volitional beings. See Predestination and Free Will for a Biblical perspective on the issue.

24:17-22. The people make a reasoned decision to serve Yahweh, based upon what He had done for them. Their free choice (24:22).
24:23-27.

After one commits their will to God, one follows through with obedience (put away), and value change (incline heart). Stones can't choose, but apparently they can hear :) Joshua makes a covenant with the people to commemorate their choice. (This covenant doesn't get much press.)

24:29. Joshua dies, and the first of three, seventy year “period of miracles” (where supernatural events are the order of the day) comes to a close. That doesn't mean God stops working in the lives of His people, nor that He no longer does miracles to aid His people; things will be different in future books.

24:31. See “Us in a Nutshell,”

Question

Have you decided to serve the Creator God fully and completely? If not, who or what are you serving?

Application

Choose to serve God exclusively and completely, then reap the benefits.

Prayer

My God, You are the one and only, there is no other; You redeem and protect and bless Your children. May I be conscious of Your ongoing work in my life, so I never swerve from serving You all of my days. Amen.

Digging Deeper

God in a nutshell: “24:19...He is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins." 20 If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after He has done you good.” He gives us a choice to serve Him, and incentives to do so. He always keeps His promises, for good or bad. The God who makes the rules (sovereign) gives people free will and sovereignly attaches consequences to our choices.“

Dt 30:19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed; 20 to love Yahweh your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life”

Us in a nutshell: We have a choice in serving and obeying God. As long we are obeying, God acts in our lives. As long as we are conscious of what God has done, we serve the true God. If we drift, we forget, then disobey, and forfeit the blessings, reaping judgment instead.

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him completely and faithfully. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh. 15 "If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, CHOOSE this day whom you will serve; 18 Yahweh drove out from before us all the peoples...Therefore we also will serve Yahweh; for he is our God. 22 "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen Yahweh yourselves, to serve him." They said, "We are witnesses." 23 "Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel." 24 The people said to Joshua, "We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice."

Where to go for more

Truthbase.net
Predestination and Free Will