Victorious Christian Living
“Our Loyalty to Our Lord”
Joshua 23:1-16
Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor
According to chapter 24:29, Joshua died at the age of 110, and he was buried on his land near Ephriam.
- While his physical body had given out, Joshua’s memory of all God’s blessings had not faded, for he named them all.
- Joshua told the leaders of Israel about the blessings of their continued obedience to God and the consequences of their disobedience to Him.
- He reminded them of their personal obligation to remain loyal to the One who had been loyal to them, and their national responsibility to live their lives in such a way as to uphold the Abrahamic covenant and to preserve their inheritance in the Promised Land, for from this point on, it was up to them.
While some Canaanites remained in the land, including a few of the giants (Anakin), by God’s power, and through Joshua’s leadership, the Israelites had conquered the land of Israel, and it had been divided among the tribes as an everlasting inheritance.
- The issue they faced now was how to build a sustainable life on the land God had given to them, and live according to God’s divine plan.
- Even though Joshua was 110 years old and knew his death was near, he wanted to do what he could to ensure the Israelites remained absolutely loyal to the God who had been absolutely loyal to him, and to them, for that was the only way they could build a better life for the generations to follow them.
The events outlined in the Book of Joshua illustrate the New Testament definition of the Victorious Christian life.
- Therefore, while we will continue to battle with our own sin nature until we die, and with those sins that so easily beset us, having received Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are at peace with God, and the eternal destiny of our lives has been settled forever.
- Romans 8:29 – “For whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
- Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
- So, having won the victory over sin, self, and Satan, and having the assurance of our eternal salvation, we can live the victorious Christian life from victory unto victory until we see the face of Jesus.
- However, as those whom God has saved by His grace alone, by our faith alone, we are called to be absolutely loyal to the One who has been, and still is, absolutely loyal to us, as an example and a pattern for those generations right behind us.
- Colossians 1:10-11 – “See that you walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His might.”
1. There is an Example to Follow – Joshua 23:1-2 – Vs. 2 – “Joshua called for all Israel, their elders, their heads, their judges, and their officers, and said to them.”
- For seven years, Joshua had led the Israelites in one victory after the other to conquer the land, and for the last 25 years, the Israelites had been building on that victory as they established their homes, their villages and their farms.
- So, Joshua could have said: “Having finished the work God sent me to do, I’m going to retire to my small community in Ephriam and just take life easy.”
- However, for the man who said, “Give me that mountain,” the word “retirement” was not in his vocabulary.
- Even though he was 110 years old, Joshua wanted to invest his last days; even his last hours, reminding his people to remain loyal to the one who had been loyal to them.
- Joshua was a type of Christ, and if the Israelites were to fix their eyes on Joshua to make Canaan their home, then we are to fix our eyes on Jesus, who, in His farewell address to His disciples, said, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love.” (John 15:10)
2. There is an Encouragement to Embrace –Joshua 23:2b-5 – Vs. 3 – “You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you.”
- Joshua pointed to three things that should have given the Israelites all the encouragement they needed to keep on trusting God.
- The Grace of God – From their forefather’s deliverance from Egypt and their crossing of the Red Sea, to their father’s crossing of the Jordan River and the conquering of the land of Canaan, every blessing was because of the grace of almighty God.
- The Character of God – Joshua reminded them that the Lord God had removed the Canaanites from the land “because of them,” and “the Lord God will continue to expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight.”
- The Promise of God – In Exodus 23:29-30 and in Deuteronomy 7:22, God promised that they would conquer the land, but that He would not remove all the Canaanites at once. As the nation grew and populated the land, He would drive out the remnant. Just as God had kept His promises up to that point, so would He keep His promises for their future.
3. There is an Exhortation to Obey – Joshua 23:6-13 – Vs. 7-8 – “Lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.”
- The issue here is not about racial or physical genetics, but spiritual maturity.
- God knew that, unless both parties accept Him as the One True God, it would be impossible to develop spiritual oneness between them, which would affect their children and their children’s children.
- 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 – “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? What portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?”
4. There is an End to Avoid – Joshua 23:14-15, Vs.- 15, –“Therefore, it shall come to pass that as all the good things have come upon you which the Lord your God promised you, so the Lord will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.”
- In verses 13, 14, and 16, Joshua warns them about apostasy, that if they turn from God and turn to idols, they will perish from the good land He has given to them.
- God had been loyal to His covenant with His people, but the question was, had God’s people been serious about their covenant with Him?
