Joshua 23 Joshua's Charge to Israel's Leaders

Joshua was able to see with his own eyes the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel concerning the land. Israel marched in and conquered the territory marked out for them and gave all their attention to its allotment and occupation. They saw the hand of God at work on their behalf against the nations in the land. Lord God Almighty fought for Israel to make all of this possible. But now that Joshua is of age, he calls the leaders to remind them of the covenant.

One of the most important things that Joshua wants the leaders to understand is that the covenant is conditional. God will continue to fight for Israel before the nations as long as they are faithful to him. Some of the things that Joshua highlights are: the keeping of the Law of Moses and avoiding the adoption of the religions of the surrounding nations. The prohibition against mixing with the nations and intermarrying with them was religious and not racial. Israel was to remain faithful to the covenant to continue to receive its benefits. To achieve this, Israel had to remain ready for battle at any moment.

On the other hand, if Israel disobeyed and was unfaithful to the covenant, it had to face its consequences. The main consequence of their disobedience is that God would no longer drive the nations before Israel. The nations would become a "snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides, and thorns in your eyes until you perish." Basically, the surrounding nations would fight and dominate Israel and even take possession of the land promised. Their unfaithfulness would kindle the anger of the Lord against them until he has destroyed them from off the land.

In the new covenant with Christ, he requires me to do the same. I must be willing to wage battle with the world in which I live. Of course, it is not physical battle, but spiritual. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of darkness. I am called to remain faithful to my Lord. I am called to avoid even the appearance of evil. I am called to abstain from the sinful desires that wage battle within my soul.

I am called to separate from the world and never adopt its sinful lifestyle. I am called to be in the world, but not of the world. I am called to never conform to its ways and standards. Am I waging the battle of faith day by day? Or have I given in to the ways of the world? Has materialism, power, greed, and religious syncretism gripped my heart? Is it choking the life of Christ out of me?

Lord, help me be faithful to you every day. Fill me with your Spirit that I may discern your ways and walk in them. Don't let me settle with the ways of the world. Deliver me from evil. Amen.