Joshua 24:2-13 – God’s Mercy in History

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Will you remain with God? In his farewell address, found in Johsuah 24, Joshua addressed the need to remember God’s faithfulness because it is impotant we remain faithful to the Lord.

Introduction

God has shown His faithfulness to you in all He has done for you, but do you move in remembrance of all that God has done for you?  

All that the Lord desires from us is for us to be faithful to Him, but some of us often move as if God has not earned our faithfulness.   In our lesson this week, we will study Joshua’s final address to the children of Israel, as he called for them to remain faithful to the Lord.  In his address, Joshua provides all of us with the reasons for why we should remain faithful to God, generation after generation.  This week’s Sunday School commentary will cover scripture from Joshua 24:2-13. 

What we will focus on learning in this week’s Sunday School commentary:

1. The reality of what faithfulness is.
2. The importance of remembering God’s faithful works.

Joshua’s Farewell Address

Now, before we dive into this Sunday School commentary, I want to note that Joshua 24 contains Joshua’s farewell address to the children of Israel.  Keep in mind, this generation of Israel is made up of the children and the grandchildren of the generation that refused to inherit the Promised Land.

Joshua, being Moses’ right-hand man, picked up leading the children of Israel after God did not permit Moses to cross the Jordan after Moses’ sin in Kadesh (Num. 20:12).  Joshua led the children of Israel in the conquest of Canaan and enjoyed great success.  However, he had grown old and advanced in years, and there was still much work to do in the conquest (Josh. 13:1).

So, in his farewell address, Joshua spoke to the children of Israel about remaining faithful to God and to the task God had given them.  The children of Israel were to finish conquering the land of Canaan and heed God’s instructions for living in the land.  

God Saves from Sin

Our lesson opens with Joshua speaking about Israel’s forefathers, beginning with Terah, who was the father of Abraham (Josh. 24:2).  Joshua noted that Abraham’s people dwelt on the other side of “the River”, which is a reference to the Euphrates River.  Fun note: The Euphrates was one of the four rivers that flowed out of Eden to water the garden (Gen. 2:10-14).

Now, the reason why Joshua speaks of this era to the children of Israel is because of what God had done for Abraham, Israel’s grandfather.  Let’s note that Joshua mentioned Abraham’s people served other gods when they dwelt on the other side of the Euphrates.

Genesis 11:24-32 tells us all about Terah and the land that he dwelt in.  Abraham’s people dwelt in the land of Ur of the Chaldeans, in the Mesopotamia region.  The Babylonians were also known as Chaldeans, but we shouldn’t confuse these Chaldeans with them, as the Babylonians came along the way later.  

In Genesis 11:31, we are told that Terah took Abram (Abraham), Lot (Haran’s son), and Sarai (Sarah/Abraham’s wife) with him as he left Ur to dwell in Haran.  Abraham dwelt in Haran for a period of time until Genesis 12 shows us that God called for him to leave his father’s house and the land he dwelt in. 

In Genesis 12:2-3, God promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation, make his name great, bless him, and bless all the families of the earth through him.  

Let’s be clear, God was offering Abraham an opportunity that, in a manner of speaking, is the same opportunity we have today through Christ.  Through Christ, one can be saved from their sins, and from having dwelt in a world of sin.  

Now, scripture does not indicate whether or not Abraham participated in the idolatry of his father’s house.  However, as Joshua pointed out in Joshua 24:3, Abraham chose to reject idolatry and leave his father’s house and the land of Haran.

Because he chose to heed God’s instructions, Abraham was blessed greatly by God, which Joshua spoke of, as recorded in Joshua 24:3.  Genesis 12:10-13:4 shows how the Lord brought Abraham through the land of Canaan to Egypt, and then back into the land of Canaan, where he dwelt.  

Because of his faithfulness, God made a covenant with Abraham, which is spoken of in multiple places, but truly first spoken of in Genesis 15.  As we know, the Lord promised that Abraham would become a great nation and that his descendants would dwell in the land that he dwelt in – the land of Canaan, the Promised Land.

God Rewards Faithfulness

The first era that Joshua spoke of in his address highlights God’s faithfulness as He can save one from sin and desires to do so.  When one obeys God’s instructions, He rewards their faithfulness, and they are blessed.  Abraham’s story truly is a story that reminds us that if we follow God’s instructions, He is going to lead us to the blessing.  

Joshua 24:4 highlights God rewarding Abraham’s faithfulness and how the covenant was passed down to the next generation(s).  This is a thought that reminds me of what is said in Hebrews 6:10:  “God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name.”

God is a rewarder of faithfulness!  As I said in last week’s commentary – God Renews His Covenant – God has to be a rewarder of faithfulness.  The reason why God has to be a rewarder of faithfulness because He has promised to do so.  When the Lord makes promises, He swears to Himself since He can swear by no greater (Heb. 6:13).  Therefore, God is going to be faithful to reward you, as doing otherwise would prove Him to be unfaithful to Himself.

Something else I want to highlight about Joshua 24:4 is the comparison between the reward of obedience and disobedience.  The comparison was made between Esau and Jacob, and the kind of land that was given to them to possess  

Esau was the twin brother of Jacob, and since he was the firstborn twin, he had the birthright and the blessing of Isaac.  However, Esau didn’t much cherish his birthright and sold it to Jacob for some bread and stew (Gen. 25:29-34).  Esau even lost the blessing, or inheritance to Jacob as Jacob schemed and beat him to the punch.  Though in actuality, since Esau sold his birthright, he had lost the right to being the heir of Isaac. 

Now, Esau was a blessed but his blessing was lesser.  Esau did become a nation, as the Edomites descended from him.  As Joshua pointed out, the Edomites dwelt in mountains of Seir, rugged terrain.  

Jacob, on the other hand, while being a schemer, eventually learned to grab hold of God and refuse to let go.  Jacob’s name was changed to Israel and he began to walk by faith, trusting the Lord.  Jacob had inherited the promise made to Abraham and because God is faithful, the descendants of Jacob, Israel, eventually inherited the Promised Land of milk and honey after having dwelt in the bondage of Egypt.

These opening verses from Joshua 24:2-5 highlight God’s faithfulness to save from sin and to deliver on what He has promised.  However, as the onus was on Israel to choose to be faithful, the onus is on us to heed God’s directions so that we may receive what He has promised to us.  

God Delivers from All Trouble

The second era that Joshua touched on was the era following the exodus of Egypt and the journey to the Promised Land (Josh. 24:6-10).

Now, the journey to the Promised Land wasn’t an easy one by any means.  A lot of Israel’s troubles were brought on due to their disobedience.  Yet, there were other times when adversaries either tried to attack, hinder/block, or scheme against them.

God delivers from impossible odds

Joshua first spoke of what God did to the Egyptians at the Red Sea in Joshua 24:6-7.  

We often sing that the children of Israel were trapped at the Red Sea, but in actuality, they were never trapped.  Sure, the Red Sea was in front of them, and Pharaoh and his army were coming from behind, but again, I will tell you that they were not trapped at the Red Sea.  How can you be trapped when God is with you?

Let’s keep in mind that God plagued Pharaoh and the Egyptians to show His power and that He is the only God to both Israel and the Egyptians.  So, when Israel thought they were doomed at the Red Sea, God showed His faithfulness to them by blocking Pharaoh’s path, standing between him and Israel in the pillar of cloud (Ex. 14:20).  

The Red Sea, which “blocked” the path before them, was parted by the Lord as if it wasn’t even there.  Once again, God showed not just His power, but also His faithfulness, not to permit Israel to be hindered by Pharaoh any longer.  As we know, Israel crossed on dry ground, and Pharaoh and his army ended up drowning in the Red Sea.

No matter the circumstance, God is faithful to deliver.  When you think something is impossible, God is faithful to deliver.  The Lord has certainly done the impossible for me throughout my life.

God is a refuge and fortress

Joshua then spoke of when the children of Israel dwelt in the wilderness for forty years because they had refused to inherit the Promised Land.  He spoke of how they were hindered by the Amorites, who wouldn’t permit Israel to pass through their land as they journeyed (Josh. 24:8).  Rather than letting them be blocked, God gave Israel the power to not only strike down the Amorites but to dwell in all of their cities (Num. 21:21-32).

Joshua then spoke about how the Moabites, fearing Israel, tried to turn to a gentile prophet, Balaam, who they sought to curse Israel (Josh. 24:9-10).  Balaam did teach the Moabites how to cause the men of Israel to sin through sexual temptation (Num. 31:16).  Balaam did that because he couldn’t curse Israel because God was Israel’s shield and protection.

Let’s keep in mind what God has promised in Isaiah 54:17, promising that no weapon formed against His children shall ever prosper.  God is God over the flesh, and He is God over the spiritual as well.  There is nothing that can overcome the power of the Lord, as He is our refuge from all that may move against us.

God delivers victory

The third era Joshua speaks of in Joshua 24:11-12 highlights what God had done for the children of Israel once they crossed the Jordan.  

The first city that Joshua and this generation of Israel encountered on their conquest was Jericho, a well-fortified city.  It was said that Jericho’s wall were impregnable.  Yet, what wall is there that can stop the Lord?  Jericho was likely one of the fortified cities that ten of the spies spoke of in their disparaging words against being able to inherit the land (Num. 14:28).  

Yet, God is faithful to what He promises and delivered victory as He toppled the walls of Jericho.  Frankly, during the conquest of Canaan, all of the people in the land were just obstacles that God toppled, as Israel enjoyed great success being led by Joshua.  God had promised Joshua that no enemy would be able to stand before him, and this was true as Joshua had led Israel to conquer much of the land.

One Must Choose to be Faithful

At the conclusion of all that the Lord had done for the children of Israel, from Terah to Joshua’s farewell speech, God had given reason for Israel to remain faithful.  

In fact, Joshua 24:13 highlights the reason why Israel should choose to remain faithful.   Israel occupied a land and cities that they didn’t have to build or even labor in.  God truly was faithful to bring them to a prepared land, flowing with milk and honey.

Outside of the selected scripture of the lesson, Joshua eventually concluded his speech by asking the children of Israel which God they would serve (Josh. 24:14-17).  

In his farewell address, Joshua’s desire was for this generation of Israel not to repeat the sins of their fathers, especially after all they had seen God do.  Keep in mind, the elders of this generation of Israel, at their oldest, would have been 19 years and younger when God parted the Red Sea.

Though they answered Joshua by saying they would serve the Lord, the children of Israel failed to complete the conquest of the land.  A generation of Israel eventually rose that did not know the Lord and forsook Him to serve idols (Judg. 2:11-13).

This is a thought that always leads me to ask this question:  How could a generation of Israel rise and not know the Lord?  

Now, to be clear, that generation knew of God, but they didn’t turn to Him – they lived out of fellowship with the Lord.  Faithfulness is all about one being loyal, devoted, and committed, returning the same faithfulness that the Lord has shown to them.