April 7, 2015
Joshua 23-Part 2
You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. Joshua 23:14 b and c NIV
LET IT GLOW
Yes, the Lord God has been so good to us. He brought me through surgery and recovery. I am taking medicine to break up the kidney stones and waiting for them to go away. Even as my husband faces a serious surgery a second time, ablation on the heart to make it beat correctly, we are trusting in our faithful God. He has not failed us in one thing, like Israel. God is always faithful and extravagantly good! Yet, how many times have I failed Him! He still forgives.
We have been reading about Joshua's farewell address to the leaders of Israel, his people and family. In the rest of the chapter, verses 11-16, he is calling the people to separation from the heathen nations who surround Israel.
Looking at verse 14, Joshua knows his day of departure is at hand. He says, ...and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; and not the one hath failed thereof.
Isn't the Lord so good to us with grace and mercy every morning? He does not fail us. We may question His ways, but He is sovereign and keeps His Word. 1 Kings 8:56 NIV tells us, Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave through His servant Moses.
Are we trusting Him in our situation today?
LET IT GROW
Also, Joshua warns the elders that if they transgress the covenant of the Lord your God that the Sovereign will withhold the good promised Israel and bring upon them all evil things to destroy them; yet not utterly (Rom. 11). (Falwell) (verse 15)
How is Joshua is challenging and calling Israel to separate themselves from the idolatrous nations around them?
- Love the Lord your God. (verse 11) Separation from evil arises out of love for the Lord God.
- Do not cleave unto the remnant of these nations.
- Do not intermarry with the Canaanites, lest God would stop fighting for His people. Here he is talking about believers not marrying unbelievers in Jesus Christ.
- They were previously warned to not having alliances with pagan nations and warned against disobeying the Lord's Word.
- If they disobey, God will not drive out their enemies; snares, traps, scourges in their sides, and thorns in their eyes will come. Scourges means to pierce, flog, a goad.
The Christian who marries an unbeliever marries the spouse's belief system, values, lifestyle, and family foundation. And usually, the unbeliever will influence the believer downward, when the Christian life is supposed to be one of growth (Ex. 23:33; Num. 33:55; Deut. 7:3,16) (The Jeremiah Study Bible)
Jesus told His disciples what would happen to Him when they went to Jerusalem-be mocked, scourged, spit upon, and killed, yet, the third day He shall rise again. (Mark 10:34; Luke 18:33) This happened, as recorded in Mark 15:15 and Matthew 27:26, when Pilate released Barabbas to appease the crowd, and scourged Jesus, then crucified Him. Such love for us!!
In John 19:1, we read of Pilate taking Jesus and scourging Him, then the soldiers platted a crown of thorns on His head, and a purple robe upon Him in mockery of Jesus being the King of the Jews. They also smote Him.
Jesus went through all of that because He loves us. He wanted to be our blood sacrifice for our sins, so we do not have to pay for them ourselves. Such love!!!
Friend, have you repented of your sins and trusted Jesus as your Savior? If not yet, you can today. He is only a prayer away. Romans 10:13 says, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Perhaps you are already saved, but have loved ones who are not. That is a good chapter to read to them.
Join me as I stand in awe of Jesus, the Savior of the world!!
LET IT GO
Continue to trust the God who does not fail.
Surrender to His will and ways.
Give Him glory!!!
Ask God to help me not fail Him, but to be faithful.
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