JOSHUA 23 – ‘Hope in the Promised Land’
The text that we are focussing on tonight is titled by the NIV as ‘Joshua’s Farewell to the Leaders’ and I think that by that title alone we can assume that this text would have some significance in the book of Joshua. Before we unpack that Chapter, I want to give a very quick overview of what has happened up to this point. Chapters 2 to 21 of this book record we have this man Joshua, called and inspired by God, leading God’s chosen people into this ‘promised land’. Now we know by having looked through this book, that there were struggles and that there were enemies, but equally, we know of the awesome power of God that was with Joshua and His people. This was a land promised to the people back in Exodus, led by Moses, that is now being given to Joshua and his people. If you look at verse 43 of Joshua 21 it says,
‘So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there.’
That verse is a key verse in the book and in the life of Joshua – and there is something quite striking about it – it is God-centred and not Joshua-centred. Joshua is such an inspiration to us today, as well as to the people back then because he was focussed on the Lord and He did everything and lived for His glory. This verse is also crucial for looking at Joshua 23 because Joshua’s ‘task’ given to him by God has been completed, and the people have reached the promised land. So, we have Joshua giving his farewell having seen the Lord working in his life, and having witnessed the Lord using Him for this special purpose.
As we go through this passage, I want us to reflect on the words of Joshua by considering three things:
· The consistent ‘God-exalting’ words that we see contained in this passage
· Future hope – which only comes in God
· Warning – which is stressed crucially in this Chapter
All of these three points can be linked together, and we will consider how they can link as we go through each point. I will also refer back to the very first Chapter of Joshua, which can be compared to Chapter 23 and as I refer back to key verses in that Chapter, this book from start to finish will begin to look complete and will certainly help us to see that the Lord is always in control.
So our first point, as we look at Joshua 23, the most glorious way to begin this is by considering the 'exaltation’ of God. The first two verses in this Chapter set up the premise for the rest of the Chapter with some factual information, and also some ‘God exaltation’. In verse 1 it says that ‘After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them…’ Now I want to make our first reference to Joshua 1 by looking at verse 13. In verse 13 the Lord says to Joshua, ‘Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: ‘The Lord your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.’ Now, using this verse in Joshua 1, and reflecting on Joshua 23:1, there is a massive promise having been fulfilled. This term ‘rest’ that appears in both verses implies a peace and security, and a ‘resting’ or ‘settled people’ free from enemy attack and threats from other groups or people. It says in Joshua 1:13 that Moses has clearly told Joshua that the Lord has promised Joshua this land that the Israelites have been waiting for, for years and years. Then, in verse 1 of Chapter 23, the Lord has ‘given them rest’. It almost seems so simple. And for God, it is! We can read through Chapter and Chapter of battles in Exodus and now in Joshua and see what a slog, and how much opposition that God’s people face to reach this land. However, with God, it is not a slog but it is the fulfilment of a promise and of His Sovereign will. By simply looking at Joshua 1 and 23 it helps us see how great God is. He promises a land, and He provides this land. God gets the glory! It is so encouraging to see how our Lord works in the lives of His people throughout the Bible, and none more so in Joshua. The role of Joshua and the people is not dependent upon how many there are, or how good they are in battle – it is depending on their faith in God. Something that can take us years and years, or something that we may not be able to achieve, can be achieved by God in a hairs breath if we simply have faith in Him! If we believe in the promise, like Joshua in Chapter 1:13, then God will fulfil His promise because that is the will of God and such is the glory of God!
Anyway, we can now consider the words of Joshua. If you were to split up Joshua’s farewell into sections, then something very striking appears. At the beginning of every section is…’God exaltation’. Now that is not something that should surprise us in the slightest. I was speaking about Nehemiah a couple of Wednesday’s ago at our Bible Study and considered the ‘Power of Prayer’ in the book and in the life of Nehemiah. And one of the main things that was drawn out was that the ‘great prayers’ contained in that book began by simply exalting and praising God. Regardless of the situation that surrounded this prayer, or the requests that could have been made to God, there was always time to soak in God’s presence. And I mention this to set up a crucial point here. God is the centre of the life of Joshua, the life of every man and woman of faith in the Bible, and also hopefully, He is the centre of the lives of you and I tonight. He is at the centre because He has created us, as He created Joshua, He guides and leads us, similar to the way He leads Joshua and his army as they reach the promised land, He saves us, by Christ’s saving blood of the cross, a once for all sacrifice, that will lead Joshua and us to glory because of our faith by His grace alone, and consequently, He fulfils His promises, which includes the promise of eternity with Him – and we certainly can see by looking at the first verse of Joshua 23 that the Lord our God fulfils His promises!
Our focus for looking at ‘God exaltation’ will be by running through three key verses, verses 3,9-10 and 14 before we can then unpack the ‘hope’ that the people can and do have in their Almighty Father. I’m just going to read these verses out, one after the other. Verse 3,
‘You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you.’
Verses 9-10,
‘The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as He promised.’
Verse 14,
‘You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God has given you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.’
I did intend to run through this Chapter in order, and I will do this by looking at our other two points, the ‘future hope’ in God and then the ‘warning’ from God. However, I wanted to pick out these ‘God exalting’ texts first of all because I believe that there is no better way to approach the Word of God. When we pray, when we praise, when we worship, when we spend time with God and as we are living our lives for God – to have God at the centre and to be living for His glory is the place that everyone should start. That is because it is not merely a beginning with God before moving onto something else – it gives God that ‘centrality’ from the start, a centrality that will remain throughout. And by reflecting on the glory of God and the God-exalting verses at the beginning, we will know and see that centrality in the heart of Joshua throughout his farewell message.
So in verse 3 Joshua exclaims that everything that has been achieved, has been achieved by and because of the Lord. Then again, in verse 9, Joshua affirms that it is down to God that the enemies have been destroyed, also mentioning that this was what the Lord has promised – thus showing that He fulfils His promises. Then in verse 14, Joshua glorifies the Lord by exalting Him for fulfilling every promise. So in these God-exalting verses, we have a God of strength, we have a God that is superior to any earthly thing, we have a God that is totally reliable…and we have a God that clearly loves His people. Why is God with them and why Has he delivered them from their enemies and led them to the promised land? Exodus 34:6 describes God as ‘slow to anger…’ but ‘abounding in love’ – a love that is greater than anything we can know here on earth without the Lord – ‘love’ God has for us, His chosen people. I don’t want to spend too much time on this first point so we have time for the other points, but I will stress the significance of these ‘exalting’ verses very quickly. Joshua is using the work that the Lord has done in His life to exalt Him, and that is very powerful. It certainly is to draw the crowd’s attention to the fact that it is God that has achieved all of these things. But I think it is also, more significantly, Joshua saying to God, ‘Thank you, Oh glorious One, it is all because of you that I am here and that we have reached the promised land. All glory is yours!’ We can see that all throughout this Chapter and throughout the life of Joshua – he follows God’s commands and He learns from his mistakes and failings by the guiding power of God – his life is a ‘God exalting’ life because of that power and that strength given to him by Almighty God. It is that glorious!
Now, it is very easy to make the transition into the second point I want us to look at – which is hope, future hope in God. If there is one place we have ‘hope’ then it is in God. The hope that we have in Joshua 23 comes in Joshua’s rebuke and instruction for his people for when he leaves. But I just want to define this word ‘hope’ in a Biblical, God-centred context. When we talk of ‘hope’ we normally there is a general optimism in the air. It may be hoping for a sports team to win, or a hope that you get praise from your boss, or hope that you’ll get tickets to a concert. There is always an air of ‘uncertainty’. And if you were to read some of Joshua’s instructions, you could say that it is a ‘hit or a miss’ whether they can be fulfilled. However, with God, ‘hope’ is steadfast, hope is certain. When God makes a promise, as we see in Joshua 23 and all throughout the Bible, his promises are ALWAYS fulfilled. It is not an optimistic hope when you hope in God, it is a ‘certain’ hope in the promises and truth and love that is in our Lord. That is why, even in instructions and commands, when we put our hope in God, there is a ‘certain’ hope. As you can certainly see, there is ‘hope’ in the glory of God and in the God exalting verses of this Chapter. But I want to run through this Chapter, and look at where we can see ‘hope’ in God.
In verse 4, Joshua reminds them of how he has ‘allotted the tribes’ and about the enemies that have been defeated. Then in verse 5 it says,
‘The Lord your God Himself will drive them out of your way (referring to the enemies). He will push them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God has promised.’
Now if you are reading through the Bible and get to this verse, there is no uncertainty because you would know that God has a Sovereign purpose and His will be done. If the Lord your God has promised this, then it WILL be fulfilled. This verse has incredible hope for God’s people. Remember the God exalting verse 14, ‘Every promise has been fulfilled.’ Joshua is therefore reminding them of God’s awesome power and love towards them in verse 4, and then ‘easing’ any worries they may have by filling them with all hope which is in their Father – a hope that not only can fill their hearts, but glorifies God as the all-powerful Father that can and will fulfil His promises.
Now just looking down at the next two verses, we can see something very clever, and also very important. Joshua 23:6 says,
‘Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.’
And turn back to Joshua 1:6 onwards, where it says,
‘Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.’
This is another striking parallel, and it speaks volumes about Joshua. Back in Chapter 1, we have God instructing him before his conquests as we have already considered, and now in Chapter 23 he is almost echoing what was said by God. Joshua instructs his people to be ‘very strong’ and keep the ‘Law of Moses’, almost identical to the words God commands of Joshua. Now what is this telling us?…It is telling us that Joshua is imparting instruction of ‘hope’, a hope that he has lived, and now can give testimony to with great wisdom. His strength, his courage and his obedience to the Law again is testimony to a life walking with the Lord. As a result, it is a simple instruction to him, if there is a true and faithful hope in the living Lord. The emerging pattern in this book, as it is with God and His people – God calls His people, and then His people can spread the Word, teach people in that power in God, and then rebuke and instruct with that confidence they have in their Almighty Father. We may have experienced a lot of difficulties in life, and certainly faced times of uncertainty – but that can help us to see how the Lord becomes our strength in our weaknesses, particularly in hindsight and we can then testify with that wisdom and experience to the splendours of God and give instruction with that confidence, that hope which is in Him. What Joshua is doing is very powerful – he is giving hope to the people, based on a hope that has come from a life with the Lord, a hope in the Lord…a life which we see in Chapter 1 being one that was ‘called by God’.