He Can Handle YOU.

Joshua: "A man in whom IS the Spirit"...thus saith the Lord. Indeed, Joshua was a special man. His very name means "Yahweh Saves"....a form of our English word, Jesus. The book of Joshua details the preparation to enter Canaan, the battles that claimed the promised land, the dividing of the land by tribes, and finally the farewell and death of Joshua with the renewing of the Covenant. What did this man learn about God? Joshua saw God block the flow of the Jordan River, crumble the walls of Jericho, send an enormous hail storm, and even cause the sun to "stand still" in the sky. He saw God drive out thirty-one kings from seven nations and destroy their cities with them. Joshua witnessed God's hand of mercy, and His hand of discipline. Maybe that is why he was asked to remind the people once again of the covenant they have with God.

Why were the tribes to the west so quick to respond to the altar the eastern tribes built? Well....have you ever been misunderstood? Have you ever misunderstood someone else? I think the punishment for sin in the camp was still very fresh on their minds, and they were very sensitive to anything that appeared to go against the covenant with God. The western tribes confronted the eastern tribes basically saying, "What are you thinking?!?!? How can you turn from God so quickly?! He's gonna punish you for this, and us too!" Finally, somebody was listening and paying attention during Covenant Class 101. Even though it was a misunderstanding, it was worth the time to get it straightened out. (By the way, what can we learn from this about our attitudes during misunderstandings?) When the "smallest sin" is tolerated, it soon becomes the norm. The slightest indiscretion can corrupt the whole nation, and that is why God was very clear about Israel not associating with the Canaanites. Although, not everyone was kicked off of the land, still some remained and the people were warned not to socialize with them......but we'll get to that.

Joshua exalted God in his farewell to the people. He reminded them of how God fights for them, and that no one can stand against them with God on their side. God had given the inheritance, and given them rest. Joshua's mind was made up! There is no God like Jehovah. His words apply even today when thinking of the unbelieving world around us. We must hold fast to the Lord our God, and serve Him only.

Joshua reminded the people of the Covenant promise. He gave a brief overview from the promise with Abraham to captivity in Egypt, the 40 yrs in the desert and the 28 years since that time. He spoke of Abraham moving away to the land of Canaan, of Isaac and Jacob, reminded them of Moses, Aaron, and the crossing of the Red Sea after the plagues fell on Egypt. He reminded them of driving out the Amorites and the story of Balaam. He recounted the defeat of the seven nations in Canaan, and how all of Israel now has "land they did not toil, cities they did not build, olives and vineyard groves they did not plant." Joshua begs of them to fear the Lord and serve Him only......or choose whatever other god they will. And here, Joshua states boldly some of the most famous words in the Bible: "But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

You see? God is faithful, even when we are not. The book of Joshua concludes with the burial of he and Joseph in the land God had promised many, many years before. We are not so sinful that it "messes up" the plan. We never catch God off-guard or unprepared. We are never too far from the reach of His grace. There is no plan B. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation....we must trust that He can handle us.