Joshua 24
Pastor Mark Hudson
We arrive at the end of the book of Joshua which also includes a brief mention of his death at the age of 110. The majority of this chapter is Joshua’s speech to the people of Israel, but we will also mention vs. 29-33 which mean seem insignificant to the modern reader but are important to the author.
Joshua gathers everyone together at Shechem and delivers his last and most stirring speeches. Coming from such a great leader, who was a servant of Moses, his words had to have made a profound impact on the listeners. They know Joshua is about to die, they have not only arrived at the promise land but have settled it or at least well on their way to settling in. He begins with Abraham’s father Terah who was an idolator living in Mesopotamia.
Joshua mentions the 3 patriarchs, their time in Egypt, and the wandering in the wilderness. By now, after the death of Caleb, Joshua and Eleazar (v. 33) are the only ones living, who lived through the entire wilderness experience. The people listening would have lost their parents during this time of wandering. Joshua mentions the various victories God gave them saying, “I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.” This sums up a believers life before God. God does it all. We reap the benefits.
He then exhorts them to “put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.” Yes, Joshua still has the say this. He tells them they have to choose: idols recent or idols past. Then we find one of the most well-known verses in the Bible is found in verse 15. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
What follows is an interesting exchange. The people respond with a strong vote of allegiance and loyalty to God. They sound . . . almost convincing. In verse 19, Joshua contradicts them with, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.” This may sound counter intuitive. But it sound like, “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 16:25-26).
Joshua isn’t saying they should not obey but he knows they will not. Read Judges 10 if you think Joshua is wrong.
In v. 21, they insist they are serious about following the Lord. Joshua is not buying it. In fact, this cutting of the covenant is done at Shechem. Shechem is where the Lord first promised Abraham the land in 12:6-7. Now, almost 600 years later, Joshua is here with God’s people on the promised land. Shechem was also where Israel put away their foreign gods (Gen 35:4). It was here in Gen 33:20 that an alter was erected with the name, God, the God of Israel. These themes surrounding Shechem are meant to inform the people and the readers. They must be serious about this covenant.
This is true about any relationship we enter with a holy God. He is not lighthearted. He does not expect us to vow our loyalty and then disobey and turn away. He demands a wholehearted commitment to serve Him. The root word for serve is mentioned 18 times in this chapter. He is God and we are His happy slaves. His slaves though, get the very best treatment. But following Christ is serious. There are probably many even in our church that do not serve or know Jesus Christ. This is no small thing for a pastor to admit.
Finally, at the end of this chapter, the people do not return to their tents but finally, . . . to their inheritance (v. 28). Joshua, called the servant of the Lord (like Moses) dies at 110 years old. Faithful to the very end. They bury Joshua in the promised land. What good news: to be buried in the promised land. Joshua’s legacy is seen in the leaders and people who followed. Joshua provided a great legacy.
And after all these years, Joseph is buried at Shechem. He was embalmed in Egypt and now, finally, he is buried in the place where Jacob bought land (in hope) from Hamor. Joseph needed to be buried in the promised land. Did Joseph think he would be resurrected from the land? Only if he was buried here? Whatever the reason, the patriarchs and Joseph had hope that their descendants would live on this land, and this is where they rested.
Eleazar, the son of Aaron died, and he is buried at his son’s town of Gibeah. These last few verses mark the very end of the anyone living during the exodus. They are all settled in the promised land. And yet, their claim of obedience proves hollow as we keep reading the Old Testament. We finally need the promised Messiah to take on the wrath of God for their and our rebellion so God can finally forgive us, pour His Holy Spirit into our hearts, and bring us to heaven.
Father, Your grace is everywhere present in every page of the Bible. You are never fooled by our words of faithfulness since You know our hearts. Yet, we have a Savior who not only died for our sins but can keep up from sin. Help us to never stop resting in Christ and never stop striving against sin. We pray this for the eternal glory of the Triune God. Amen.