As For Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord. Joshua 24

 

                                                                                  December 31, 2021

Joshua 24 As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord

 

When God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees, He called him out of a home of idolatry.  Terah, his father, served other gods. Abraham must have had a desire in his heart to know the living and true God. God told him to leave Ur and his family to take him away from all the idolatry and deal with him and make of him a nation through which the Messiah would come into the world.  God continued to take care of the Israelites by delivering them from the Amorites who fought them and from Balaam who tried to curse them, bringing them across the Jordan and delivering them from the inhabitants of the land who fought against them. Now the Israelites are settled in the land, but, because they did not get rid of the civilization that was there, they were still surrounded by idolatry.

 

Joshua is a man of great stature. Although Joshua was an average man, a man dedicated to God can be used in a mighty way. Joshua called the people together and gave them a choice. “Do you want to go back to the gods of your fathers, those pagan gods who they served? Or do you want to serve the gods of the Amorites? You can choose. But as for me and my house, we are going to serve the Lord.”

 

God has also been good to us that many people miss out on His blessings He has showered upon them. Many people think they can do as they please. It is true that He is a God of Mercy, love, and comfort, but He is also a God of judgment.

 

The Book of Joshua ends with Joshua being buried in that barren land that he chose for his inheritance.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

What God Has Done. Joshua 23

 

Joshua 23 – What God Has Done

 

Joshua calls the people around him and says, “you have seen what God has done for you.” “God has done these wonderful things for you, now stay close to Him, and obey Him.  If you do this, God will continue to bless you.” Then Joshua warns them that if they turn from God, His judgment would be upon them.

 

The grave danger of crossing the Jordan River, facing an enemy in a strange land, encountering the unknown on every hand, and meeting fear on every side, had kept Israel close to the Lord. Joshua recognized this since they had entered into rest and were enjoying prosperity and plenty. They would drift away from God, that is the story of human nature. It never changes.

 

The most dangerous period any people can go through is not the time of grave danger and suffering, but the time of peace and plenty.

 

Joshua gave this farewell address first to the leaders and then to the people. He magnified the Lord and not himself. Joshua was a gifted leader and a great general, but he gave the glory to God. He reminded them that God’s word never fails and must be obeyed completely if God is to continue His blessing on the land.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Building an Altar. Joshua 22

 

Joshua 22 – Building an Altar

 

Just before the Reubenites and the Gadites leave, Joshua calls them together and commends them for a job well done. Then he gives them a warning that even though they chose to live on the wrong side of the Jordan, they are still to follow the law of Moses. The Reubenites and Gadites then leave with a blessing from Joshua. Once they returned home, they built a monument to remind them of something. When the children of Israel heard what they had done, they got upset and gathered at Shiloh. They began to talk about war against their own brethren. The children of Israel believe the two and one-half tribes were building and altar to offer sacrifices.  They thought it was an attempt to divide the nation.

However, they did not build an altar for the purpose of offering sacrifices. The altar was simply a reminder that they still belonged to the nation Israel. The two and one-half tribes were sincere in what they had done, and the nine and one-half tribes accepted their explanation.

Some of us are a little hasty. We say and do things we should not say and do and are sincere in thinking we are defending the word of God when in reality we are not. In John 17:20-21 Jesus prayed, “neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they may all be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou have sent me.”

Not gathering facts before making conclusions, can lead to spreading of  lies. We must always research the truth before making false accusations.

Our Lord said, “You shall know them by their fruits.”  Matt. 7:16.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Cities of Refuge. Joshua 20, 21

 

Joshua 20. Cities of Refuge

 

God’s commandment for the establishment of cities of refuge was first given in Exodus 21:13. Then explicit directions for the cities of refuge are given in Numbers 35.

God knows human nature. This was His law. If one killed another unintentionally, without premeditation, he is to be provided protection.

 

Scripture makes it clear that not only was the Lord Jesus Christ slain, but He is our city or refuge today. All who find a refuge in Him are saved forever from the judgment of a Holy God. Both Jew and Gentile stand guilty before God as having participated in that which brought about the death of His Son. But Christ came to give Himself a ransom for all.  And His sacrifice on the cross has opened up, as it were, a city of refuge for all who put their trust in Him.

 

Joshua 21 Cities for the Levites

 

God kept His promise and scattered the Levites, the Priestly tribe, throughout Israel. He gave them forty-eight cities, including the cities of refuge.  It should have been a blessing to Israel to have these servants of God living within their cities and sharing the truth of the Word of God with the people.

 

Now the Israelites are at rest. The rest for us today is the rest of redemption. The one thing Christian needs is to enter into the rest God has provided. By our faith, we can accomplish that. “Come unto me, all you that labor, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28

The Israelites can now cultivate and eat the fruits of their labor.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

 

A Special Portion. Joshua 19

 

Joshua 19 – A Special Portion.

 

God gave much detail concerning Israel and the land. The land and the people go together. God not only gave them the land of Canaan, He also gave a particular area to a particular tribe. God gave each tribe a certain section of land.

 

This tells us God is concerned about our personal lives. To Him, our private life is not private. He knows us like a book. When you say, “I just want to get away and be by myself”. Know this, God is right there with you, we cannot run away from Him. It’s okay to get away from humanity if you are getting away to worship God.

 

The Israelites did not offer Joshua the choicest part of the land. It was Joshua himself that chose a barren place about 11 miles from Shiloh. It was probably the worst spots he could have chosen.

 

The Israelites were more than willing to let this man of God have a small, barren place as his portion.

 

We mustn’t neglect the hard workers of our church, especially when they are older and are about to retire.   Even big businesses arrange for a pension for those who retire from their company. God’s people often fail to take care of their elderly.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

 

The Tabernacle - Joshua 18

 

Joshua 18 – The Tabernacle

 The children of Israel pitched the tabernacle at Shiloh, a town in Ephraim.  It was not to be the permanent place for the tabernacle.  God chose a permanent site later in Jerusalem.  But until the site changed, the children of Israel were to worship the Lord at Shiloh. It was at the center of the land, accessible to all and a reminder that the fear of God must be at the heart of the nation.

God’s challenge to us is to go and possess our blessings. God has been so good to us. We can thank Him for His grace, His love, His goodness, and His mercy.  How wonderful He is!

 It was not the enemy that prevented the Israelites to possess their inheritance; it was their indifference and indolence.

 We must cooperate with the Lord if we want to know His will. Although “we must not lean upon our own understanding” Proverbs 3:6. We must have an understanding in order for God to direct us.

 Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

 

Their Inheritance. Joshua 15-17

 

Joshua 15. Their Inheritance

 Had the people chosen their inheritance, there no doubt would have been competition and conflict; but the Lord assigned the territory and the tribes submitted to His will. In John 3:27 it says, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”

 Caleb fought courageously to claim his God-given inheritance, the land of the giants, and so did Othniel, his son-in-law. Caleb’s daughter had faith to ask for additional blessings, and she received them. God gives – we possess by faith. We must accept whatever inheritance God grants us.

 

Joshua 16 – 17 Ephraim and Manasseh

 

Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph’s two sons, born to him in Egypt. Jacob took these sons as his own and gave them a special blessing from the Lord. This explains why these two sons inherited the most valuable land in the heart of Canaan. They were wealthy because of Joseph’s faith and love and because of Jacob’s special blessing.

 Ephraim and Manasseh were not satisfied with their inheritance, and they complained.  Jacob, however told them if they didn’t like it, go, and conquer it.  It was a mountainous area full of giants. They would have to fight, and they would have to work.

 

To lay hold of spiritual blessings we are going to have work hard. But remember there is an enemy. There are giants in the land. Satan will trip you up if he can. There is plenty of blessings to claim. Go and get it.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.