http://www.bible-history.com/geography/maps/map_canaan_tribal_portions.html
Read Joshua 23-24
It seems that Joshua has barely gotten the people in the land, and he realizes that his job is almost done. He is old and pulls the leaders and the tribes together for his last words. And it sounds very similar to Moses’ last words:
REMEMBER all that the LORD has done for you
BE STRONG
OBEY HIM
DO NOT SERVE OTHER GODS
Two verses seem to sum up Joshua’s message to the people. First a warning and then a challenge – and they are both verse 15 – verse 15 in chapter 23 and verse 15 in chapter 24.
Joshua 23:14-15 “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled, not one has failed. But just as every good promise of the LORD your God has come true, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil he has threatened, until he has destroyed you from this good land he has given you.”
Joshua 24:14-15 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Think about it:
Do you believe that all of God’s promises will come true?
Do you believe that there are real consequences to disobeying Him?
Who will you serve?
Does your life demonstrate your answer about who you serve?
Joshua spoke some powerful words. I think that his challenge affects not just the Israelites, but us as well. There are real consequences out there, and we have to serve him.
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