Joshua 23 - Last Words

Words are powerful. They can break a person or build them up. They can chastise or encourage. But final words have a special significance. They reveal what is important to the speaker knowing they may never have an opportunity to communicate this way again. 

Joshua, being advanced in years and having accomplished his mission to bring the Israelites into the promised land and settle them realizes his time has come. He passes on to the nation a challenge that could be passed down to every generation... "Be careful to love the Lord your God" Josh 23:11. 

Joshua reminds the people of how the Lord has fought for the people allowing them to take possession of the land, but he also reminds them of God's promise to punish them and remove them from the land of they were not faithful. Joshua reminds the people that the Lord will bring evil upon the people if they do not honor their covenant with God. (Josh 23:15). God has the ability and discretion to bless or to curse. Joshua encourages his brethren to choose the way of blessing. 

You and I could read ourselves into this story. I know the pull the world and sin have in my life and that daily I make a choice to trust God or to follow another way. I know that taking a stand for the Lord in our generation leaves a person exposed to all kinds of mockery and criticism. But we are called to be Gods children and stand strong in our faith even when the world is not hospitable.  We are to witness of God's greatness even among those who scoff. 

We who belong to the Lord know our eternal position is secure, but God will judge our witness among the world and may even bring disaster here to bring us back to dependence on Him alone. 

He also pours out blessing to the faithful. For those who are rich in the Lord know that God provides all our needs according to His riches in glory. The riches may not be temporal but they are greater than anything we could think to ask for. 

So, today we are challenged to be careful to love the Lord our God. Let's make our love known to the world around us today. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.