Joshua’s Farewell:Joshua’s Farewell:“The Inexorable Drift”“The Inexorable Drift”

Joshua 24Joshua 24

Joshua 24Joshua 24

A Covenant RelationshipA Covenant Relationship– Shechem:Shechem: Where God first gave the Where God first gave the

Abrahamic CovenantAbrahamic Covenant

Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel and for their heads and elders of Israel and for their heads and their judges and their officers; and they their judges and their officers; and they presented themselves before God. presented themselves before God. Joshua 24:1Joshua 24:1

Joshua 24: Four ThemesJoshua 24: Four Themes

1.1. God Can Reach God Can Reach AnyoneAnyone, , AnywhereAnywhere! v.1-2! v.1-2

Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, LORD, the God of Israel, 'From ancient times 'From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the Riveryour fathers lived beyond the River, namely, , namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods. Nahor, and they served other gods. 'Then 'Then I took your father Abraham from beyond I took your father Abraham from beyond the Riverthe River, and led him through all the land of , and led him through all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac.gave him Isaac. Joshua 24:2-3 (NASB95) Joshua 24:2-3 (NASB95)

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is strongly support those whose heart is completely His…" completely His…" 2 Chronicles 16:9 2 Chronicles 16:9

Joshua 24: Four ThemesJoshua 24: Four Themes

1.1. God Can Reach God Can Reach AnyoneAnyone, , AnywhereAnywhere! v.1-2! v.1-2

2.2. He is a God of He is a God of ACTSACTS and and FACTSFACTS v.2-16 v.2-16

He He nevernever requires requires blind faith!blind faith!

““I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…”Jacob…”

Thus: Thus: “Be strong and courageous! Do not “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”God is with you wherever you go.”Joshua 1:9Joshua 1:9

For Us, Today: For Us, Today:

Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. 2 Timothy 2:8

Joshua 24: Four ThemesJoshua 24: Four Themes

1.1. God Can Reach God Can Reach AnyoneAnyone, , AnywhereAnywhere! v.1-2! v.1-2

2.2. He is a God of He is a God of ACTSACTS and and FACTSFACTS v.2-16 v.2-16

3.3. ““Choose for yourself!” v.15fChoose for yourself!” v.15f

TheThe Message of the Bible… Message of the Bible…

"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you choose for yourselves today whom you will servewill serve: whether the gods which your fathers : whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORDas for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” .” Joshua 24:15Joshua 24:15

Jesus said* to him, "I am the way, and the Jesus said* to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. but through Me. John 14:6 John 14:6

You adulteresses, do you not know that You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4 James 4:4

Joshua 24: Four ThemesJoshua 24: Four Themes

1.1. God Can Reach God Can Reach AnyoneAnyone, , AnywhereAnywhere! v.1-2! v.1-2

2.2. He is a God of He is a God of ACTSACTS and and FACTSFACTS v.2-16 v.2-16

3.3. ““Choose for yourself!” v.15fChoose for yourself!” v.15f

When Joshua had dismissed the people, the sons When Joshua had dismissed the people, the sons of Israel went each to his inheritance to possess of Israel went each to his inheritance to possess the land. The people served the LORD all the days the land. The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel. of the LORD which He had done for Israel. Judges 2:6-7 Judges 2:6-7

All that generation also were gathered to their All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. work which He had done for Israel. Judges 2:10 Judges 2:10

They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger because they forsook him and served the LORD to anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. Baal and the Ashtoreths. Judges 2:12-13 Judges 2:12-13

Joshua 24: Four ThemesJoshua 24: Four Themes

1.1. God Can Reach God Can Reach AnyoneAnyone, , AnywhereAnywhere! v.1-2! v.1-2

2.2. He is a God of He is a God of ACTSACTS and and FACTSFACTS v.2-16 v.2-16

3.3. ““Choose for yourself!” v.15fChoose for yourself!” v.15f

4.4. Each Generation Must Choose…Each Generation Must Choose…

Committed Complacent Compromised

“Me, for sure”

The NextGeneration

……every man did what was right in his own eyes. every man did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6Judges 17:6

CommittedCommitted ComplacencyComplacencyAbrahamAbraham

Committed: Left Committed: Left UrUr

Lived in safety.Lived in safety.

Grew closer to God.Grew closer to God.

““Abram” changed to Abram” changed to “Abraham”“Abraham”

““In you all the nations of the In you all the nations of the earth will be blessed…”earth will be blessed…”

Isaac -> Jacob …Isaac -> Jacob …

““Father of Nations”Father of Nations”

““Father of Faith”Father of Faith”

LotLot (Abe’s Nephew) (Abe’s Nephew)

CommittedCommitted ComplacencyComplacencyAbrahamAbraham

Committed: Left Committed: Left UrUr

Lived in safety.Lived in safety.

Grew closer to God.Grew closer to God.

““Abram” changed to Abram” changed to “Abraham”“Abraham”

““In you all the nations of the In you all the nations of the earth will be blessed…”earth will be blessed…”

Isaac -> Jacob …Isaac -> Jacob …

““Father of Nations”Father of Nations”

““Father of Faith”Father of Faith”

LotLot (Abe’s Nephew) (Abe’s Nephew)Committed: Left Committed: Left UrUr

Plain of Jordan…Plain of Jordan…

Moved into Sodom…Moved into Sodom…

Place of ‘Place of ‘prestige’prestige’……Kidnapped / rescued…Kidnapped / rescued…

Lost his daughters…Lost his daughters…

Was never respected…Was never respected…

Rescued by a miracleRescued by a miracle

““This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.” poor and needy.” - - Ezekiel 16:49Ezekiel 16:49

"Remember Lot's wife! "Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” Luke 17:32-33

Lost Everything!Lost Everything!

CommittedCommitted ComplacencyComplacencyAbrahamAbraham

Committed: Left Committed: Left UrUr

Lived in safety.Lived in safety.

Grew closer to God.Grew closer to God.

““Abram” changed to Abram” changed to “Abraham”“Abraham”

““In you all the nations of the In you all the nations of the earth will be blessed…”earth will be blessed…”

Isaac -> Jacob …Isaac -> Jacob …

““Father of Nations”Father of Nations”

““Father of Faith”Father of Faith”

LotLot (Abe’s Nephew) (Abe’s Nephew)Committed: Left Committed: Left UrUr

Plain of Jordan…Plain of Jordan…

Moved into Sodom…Moved into Sodom…

Place of ‘Place of ‘prestige’prestige’……Kidnapped / rescued…Kidnapped / rescued…

Lost his daughters…Lost his daughters…

Was never respected…Was never respected…

Rescued by a miracleRescued by a miracle

Lost Everything!Lost Everything!

Incest with daughtersIncest with daughters

Ended up in a caveEnded up in a cave

He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), 2 Peter 2:7-8

Joshua 24: Four ThemesJoshua 24: Four Themes

1.1. God Can Reach God Can Reach AnyoneAnyone, , AnywhereAnywhere! v.1-2! v.1-2

2.2. He is a God of He is a God of ACTSACTS and and FACTSFACTS v.2-16 v.2-16

3.3. ““Choose for yourself!” v.15fChoose for yourself!” v.15f

4.4. Each Generation Must Choose…Each Generation Must Choose…

Committed Complacent Compromised

LotThe Next

Generation

Paul’s Recipe for SuccessPaul’s Recipe for Success

Highly qualified, a brilliant future career…Highly qualified, a brilliant future career…

““count them but rubbish!” Phil. 3:8count them but rubbish!” Phil. 3:8““I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing

value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…”value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…”

Paul’s Recipe for SuccessPaul’s Recipe for Success

Highly qualified, a brilliant future career…Highly qualified, a brilliant future career…

““count them but rubbish!” Phil. 3:8count them but rubbish!” Phil. 3:8

““OneOne Thing!” – that is, Jesus Christ. Thing!” – that is, Jesus Christ.– knowing Jesus Christ v.8knowing Jesus Christ v.8– To have His righteousness v.9To have His righteousness v.9– To share the power of His resurrection: To share the power of His resurrection: new lifenew life v10 v10

Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus ChristJesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ!!

"If it is disagreeable in "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the your sight to serve the LORD, LORD, choose for choose for yourselves today whom yourselves today whom you will serveyou will serve: whether : whether the gods which your the gods which your fathers served which fathers served which were beyond the River, or were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are in whose land you are living; but living; but as for me and as for me and my house, we will serve my house, we will serve the LORDthe LORD.” .” Joshua 24:15Joshua 24:15