Joshua 23:1-16 – Remembrance Day
Today I’d like to share with you some famous last words, lines spoken by people over the years just before they passed into the great hereafter.
Ethan Allen was an American Revolutionary general, who died in 1789. An attending doctor attempted to comfort him by saying, "General, I fear the angels are waiting for you." Mr. Allen responded with, “Waiting are they? Waiting are they? Well--let ’em wait.”
John Barrymore, an actor who played Sherlock Holmes, Hamlet, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, died on May 29, 1942. He said on his deathbed, “Die? I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such a conventional thing to happen to him.”
Humphrey Bogart, also an actor, who died January 14, 1957, said, “I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis.”
Charlotte Bronte, the author of Jane Eyre, died March 31, 1855. She had been married for 9 months to Rev. Arthur Nicholls. She was speaking of the Lord when she said, “Oh, I am not going to die, am I? He will not separate us; we have been so happy.”
And Harry Lillis Crosby, better known as the singer/actor Bing Crosby, died October 14, 1977. His final words were, “That was a great game of golf, fellers.”
Today we are looking at the beginning of Joshua’s last words. He has called the leaders of Israel together for some final instructions. Someone fairly clever once said that the Bible, the BIBLE, could stand for, “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” Well, let’s look at Joshua’s basic instructions before he left earth. Let’s read. Joshua 23:1-16.
Now, the Israelites have been living in the Promised Land for a few years now. Their leader, Joshua, is about to leave them, and he wants to make sure they understand what’s important in life. He uses the word “remember” in v4. He wants them to remember some very important directions. I think there are 2 things that Joshua wants his people to remember at the twilight of his own life. These are 2 things that Joshua would want us to remember, too.
The 1st thing Joshua wants is for us to 1) remember God’s strength. Look at what Joshua tells the leaders: v3-6a, 9-19, 14b. God had made promises to the His people, and He had fulfilled them. He gave His people strength to accomplish what He had said they could do. It wasn’t so much that He did it completely for them, but He invited them to be part of fulfilling those promises. God promised them that they would have strength to accomplish what He told them He would do.
We often forget God’s promises to us. Joshua tells the people to remember because it’s so easy to forget. Forgetting is so natural, it’s no wonder that over and over again in the Scriptures, we are told to remember what God has done for us.
I’ve been told of an older couple who had trouble remembering common, day-to-day things. They both decided that they would write down requests the other had, and so try to avoid forgetting. One evening the wife asked if the husband would like anything. He replied, “Yes. I’d like a large ice-cream sundae with chocolate ice cream, whipped cream and a cherry on top.”
The wife started off for the kitchen and the husband shouted after her, “Aren’t you going to write it down?” “Don’t be silly,” she hollered back, “I’m going to fix it right now. I won’t forget.”
She was gone for quite some time. When she finally returned, she set down in front of him a large plate of hashbrowns, eggs, bacon, and a glass of orange juice. He took a look and said, “I knew you should have written it down! You forgot the toast!”
Well, that’s why we should make such an effort to remember God’s strength for us, which flows from God’s promises to us: because we are likely to forget. I’d like to share with you a list of 12 promises for us from God, 12 statements we can depend on with absolute confidence
1 - We can depend on God’s presence— “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5)
2 - We can depend on God’s protection—”I am your shield” (Gen. 15:1)
3 - We can depend on God’s power—” So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” (Isa. 41:10)
4 - We can depend on God’s provision—”I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10)
5 - We can depend on God’s leading—”When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:4)
6 - We can depend on God’s purposes— “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11)
7 - We can depend on God’s rest – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ” (Matt. 11:28)
8 - We can depend on God’s cleansing— “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
9 - We can depend on God’s goodness – “No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11)
10 - We can depend on God’s faithfulness—”The Lord will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake.” (1 Sam. 12:22, KJV)
11 - We can depend on God’s guidance — ”He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” (Psalm 25:9)
12 - We can depend on God’s wise plan – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Rom. 8:28)
So remember God’s strength. The 2nd thing that Joshua wants is for us to 2) remember God’s standards. You see, whenever Joshua is not talking about God’s promises to us, He’s talking about God’s warnings to us: 6b-8, 11, 12-13, 15-16.
Joshua knew that his people would be tempted to follow the self-indulgent ways of the nations around them. He knew they could be lured away from worshipping the one and only God. So he gives them some advice: DON’T! Don’t forget God’s plans for you. Don’t forget all He has done. Don’t forget that He led you out of slavery into a better way, into better promises. Don’t forget that He deserves your attention.
But, even as Christians, we are tempted to do things our way. Often, the longer we walk with Him, the less likely we will ever change our minds about issues in life. Which can be a good thing, or it can be a bad thing. The more determined we get, the harder it can be for even God to break through. After all, the writer of Hebrews warned his Christian listeners not to harden their hearts.
But the world can be so subtle, so convincing. It can lead us to places we never meant to go. It can be distracting, taking our eyes off the things we should care the most about, and caring the most about things that shouldn’t matter all that much.
For example, we know the sins of behavior: fornication, adultery, drunkenness, murder, factions, brutality, lack of self-control, stealing, violence, brawling, disobedience to parents, and favoritism.
But we’re not so hard on the sins of the mouth: lying, complaining, yelling, boasting, gossip, slandering, disputing, backbiting, and generally being quarrelsome.
We love to criticize the sinful emotions: hatred, rebellion, bad temper, anger, malice and rage. But we’re not nearly so hard on the sins of the mind: unforgiveness, bitterness, jealousy, greed, covetousness, lust, arrogance, despiteful, pride, ingratitude, selfish ambition, heartlessness, deceitfulness and faithlessness.
We love to emphasize some sins over others. And the sins we are the hardest on are usually the ones we have the hardest time with, or the ones we’ve never struggled with at all. They’re the ones that get us the most, or the ones that we figure others shouldn’t have struggles with.
For example, when you get angry it’s because you’re ill-tempered. When I get angry, it’s because my nerves are bothering me.
When you don’t like someone, it’s because you’re prejudiced. When I don’t like someone, it’s because I’m a good judge of human nature.
When you compliment people, it’s because you use flattery to get your way. When I compliment people, it’s because I encourage them.
When you take a long time to do a job it’s because you’re unbearable slow and pokey. I take a long time because I believe in quality workmanship.
When you spend your paycheck in 24 hours, it’s because you’re a spendthrift. When I do, it’s because I’m generous.
When you stay in bed until 11 A.M., it’s because you’re a lazy good-for-nothing. When I stay in bed a little longer, it’s because I’m totally exhausted.
You see how we compare sins? That’s the subtle danger of the world. That’s part of what Joshua was warning about: the quiet pitfalls that the world tries to slide into our lives.
So we need to keep our focus as the important things in life. Not only to resist sin, but also to walk in the Spirit. To live a life not just against something, but also for something. We are to live our lives and spend our time doing the things that matter most. Even as we reject the sins of behavior, we need to live with a Spirit-filled behavior: kindness, righteousness, obedience, goodness, courage, endurance, gentleness, self-control, cooperation, sincerity, submissiveness, servanthood and impartiality.
We need to reject the sins of the mouth, but also embrace a Spirit-filled mouth: truthfulness, thankfulness, gentle answers, tact, praise, and pleasant words.
We need to throw away the sinful emotions, and hold on to the Spirit-filled emotions: love, peace, a gentle spirit, gladness, joy, long-suffering, patience and compassion.
And we need not a mind filled with sin, but a mind filled with the Spirit: forgiveness, hope, appreciation, willingness, mercy, humility, confidence, wisdom, faith and gratitude.
We need to remember God’s standards for us, and we need to remember God’s strength for us. Don’t forget these things as we continue to walk the Christian life.
(Illustrations by Karl Ingersoll and www.bible.org. Much of the info on sin comes from Henry Blackaby.)
