Joshua’s Farewell Address

Joshua 23:1–16
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In this passage we find Joshua’s retirement speech. His long life started in Egyptian bondage and ended in a worship service in the Promised Land. He had been used to lead Israel in defeating the enemy, conquering the land, and claiming the promised inheritance. He is now approaching 110 years old, and he gathers all the leaders of Israel to give them some final words of encouragement and instruction. His great and final speech extends over three chapters, but in this passage, there are three main points that Joshua tries to drive home:

1. He reminds them of how God has blessed them in the past (vv. 1-3). It was God who fought their battles and gave them the victory over their enemies. Likewise, as Christians, God has fought our battles and given us the victory.

2. He reminds them of the future blessings that the Lord had promised them (v. 5). The Lord promised that He would deliver Israel from their enemies. He also promised to deliver Christians from their enemies (James 4:7). 

3. He reminds them of what they were to do (vv. 6-7). They were to keep the Book of the Law of Moses, and they were to avoid idolatry. They were to cling to the Lord their God (v. 8) and be very careful to love Him (v. 11).

Israel’s greatest danger was moral and spiritual. Moses had warned Israel against compromising with the evil nations in the land (Ex. 23:20-33; 34:10-17; Deut. 7:12-26) and Joshua reaffirms that warning.

4. He warned that compromise would lead to the following results:

A.   God would leave Israel on her own (v. 13).

B.    The enemies would be a constant menace (v. 13).

C.    Israel would meet ultimate doom (vv. 15-16).

Application

I need to be careful about demanding my own way because eventually I may get it — along with all its painful consequences.