Joshua

Joshua 23: God keeps promises and brings judgment

Begin in prayer

Before Joshua speaks his final warnings, please bow before the God who always keeps His word. Ask Him to make us willing to hear hard truth and to lead us to Christ.

I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Isaiah 46:10

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to take Your promises and warnings seriously, and help us see our need for Jesus and His mercy. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

When Joshua is old, he calls Israel and reminds them that the LORD has fought for them. He commands them to keep Moses' law and hold fast to the LORD instead of serving other gods. He warns that turning back to the remaining nations will become a trap for them. Not one good thing God spoke concerning Israel has failed. Joshua declares that God will destroy them from the good land if they disobey His covenant and serve other gods.

As you read Joshua 23, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD kept every promise to Israel, and He warns that serving other gods ends in judgment.

Joshua was old, and the LORD had given Israel rest from their enemies all around (verse 1). He called all Israel and reminded them that the LORD had fought for them (verses 2 and 3). The LORD would drive out the nations that remained, so that Israel could possess their land as He had said (verses 4 and 5). Joshua told Israel to keep all that Moses wrote in the law, and to hold fast to the LORD (verses 6 to 8). They were not to serve the gods of the nations that remained, or to marry among them (verses 7 and 12). The LORD had driven out great nations, and one Israelite would chase a thousand, for the LORD fought for them (verses 9 and 10). Joshua said that not one good thing the LORD had spoken had failed (verse 14). In the same way, the LORD would bring on them the evil He warned of, if they served other gods (verses 15 and 16).

How does Joshua 23 show us that the LORD kept every promise to Israel, and that He warns that serving other gods ends in judgment?

God has fought for Israel and kept His word.

Joshua said the LORD had given Israel rest from their enemies all around (verse 1). He told Israel they had seen all the LORD had done to these nations, because He fought for them (verse 3). One man of Israel would chase a thousand, for the LORD fought for them (verse 10). Not one good thing the LORD had spoken had failed (verse 14).

God commands Israel to love Him and hold fast to Him.

Joshua told Israel to keep all that was written in the book of the law of Moses (verse 6). They were to hold fast to the LORD, as they had done to that day (verse 8). They were not to serve the gods of the nations that remained (verse 7). They were to take good heed to love the LORD their God (verse 11).

God will judge Israel if they serve other gods.

Joshua warned that if Israel joined the nations that remained, the LORD would no longer drive them out (verses 12 and 13). Those nations would be a snare and a trap to them (verse 13). The LORD would bring on them the evil, as He had brought the good, until they perished from the land (verse 15). Jesus bore the judgment His people deserved, and He delivers them from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1 verse 10).

Memorise

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.

Joshua 23:14

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sin am I excusing instead of asking Jesus for mercy?

Joshua told Israel that not one good thing the LORD had spoken had failed. Then he warned them that the same LORD would bring evil on them if they served other gods. Jesus came to rescue His people from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1 verse 10).

Every sinner has served other gods in his heart, and the warning stands over us all. At the cross Jesus died for His people and took that judgment on Himself, and what He suffered is fully paid. The Father raised Him, and He lives.

So do not wait. Turn from your sin and come to Jesus. He does not send away anyone who comes to Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD kept every promise to Israel, and that He warned them not to serve other gods. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His faithfulness and His just rule, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Yahweh, you are my God. I will exalt you! I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago, in complete faithfulness and truth.

Isaiah 25:1

Lord God, Your words of promise and judgment stand. Thank You for mercy through the cross of Jesus. Please lead us to repent and believe in Him instead of excusing our sin. Help our family love You and take Your commands seriously in the choices we make this week. Amen.