We have the often quoted statement of commitment in Joshua 24 - Choose you this day whom ye will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Then in Judges 2 it says
Jdg 2:4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
Jdg 2:5 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
Jdg 2:6 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
Jdg 2:7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
How many times can you count in the Bible that the Angel of the Lord came and talked to the whole congregation of people? The fact that this happened here (albeit the message was a rebuke for turning from the Lord) is an indicator though that Joshua was still, at the end of his life, an approved leader of God. In verse 7 we see that the people did serve all the days of Joshua meaning that through fear and respect for God's hand upon Joshua, the people kept in line and had been taught God's laws.
We all know what the biggest jab on Joshua is. Hundreds, yeah, I'm sure thousands of messages have been preached on Joshua's lack of discipleship. "Surely if Joshua had only trained up another man, Israel would have kept on the straight and narrow."
Who is to say he didn't and God did not publish it due to other plans?
- First, Moses and Joshua were chosen leaders for a specific, temporary phase in the history of the nation of Israel - the Exodus of Egypt and the Entrodus (I like it!) of the Promised Land respectively. This was another time of transition. Even if Joshua failed to train a leader, surely God could have engulfed another burning bush or knocked a guy off his horse to get His attention and say "You're next" so to speak. We obviously see that what God did raise up next were judges.
- God let Israel prove again and again that whether led by a leader like Moses or Joshua, whether there were a clear set of rules to abide by, whether He delivered them from wrath by the judges, whether they were governed by kings, whether they were taught by priests or whether they were warned by prophets that they would fail miserably when it was to man or law that they looked and not to GOD alone. It was all part of God's plan. Then we see JESUS - the fulfillment of the law, the great Prophet, High Priest and KING of kings, the great Judge of all the earth, the great Leader - the LORD of hosts! Jesus showed that only God can perfect what man looks for and hopes to find among other sinful men. God gave us these people and used them mightily to give us a type of all that JESUS has been, IS and always Will be. My point - Joshua was the end of that phase for God - 2 leaders of this type to accomplish getting Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised land (again, thats Entrodus) and then onto the judges to give us a different picture of Jesus and accomplish another purpose in the history of Israel
- What was my second point, kinda lost it... Oh yeah, Somebody help me here - Is there a place in the Bible that I am forgetting where God lays any blame on Joshua for not raising someone up?
- The Lord raised up others - not leaders, but judges. It was His plan
Jdg 2:16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
Jdg 2:17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; [but] they did not so.
Jdg 2:18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. - Should we also consider who it was that God used next. The first judge used was Othniel - Caleb's nephew. That is fitting considering that Joshua and Caleb were the only two spies that were willing to obey God and trust Him to deliver them into the land.
- To further demonstrate it was God's plan we see that God chose not to deliver every enemy to Joshua for the purpose of proving the people
Jdg 2:21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
Jdg 2:22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
Jdg 2:23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
Discipleship is obviously essential. Joshua committed to all the nation of Israel that at the very least he was going to disciple his own family (as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord). Because another leader was not implemented was not because Joshua fell short by not discipling (although he, like all of us fell short in many other ways), rather God had another plan.
I have heard, agreed with and taught that Moses discipled Joshua and that Joshua discipled no one. Glory will give us that answer. I do know this much, we have been clearly commissioned to evangelize and disciple by our great LEADER and so rather than fault Joshua when I don't see where God did in this area - I will commit to all 3 readers of my blog that me and my house will serve the Lord - in discipleship and otherwise - only through the promises and strength of God.
(Php 1:6) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
(Php 2:13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
2 comments:
I can name 4 readers off the top of my head...
Joshua was from Ephraim, who were the "Pharisees" during the time of the judges. Caleb was from Judah. I always found that interesting. I really like how you point out that Othniel was the nephew of Caleb. It appears there was a leader that was prepared.
I look at Judges 2:10 and see that they did not know the works that God had done for Israel. When we get answers to prayer or see God do great miracles, it is important for fathers to show those things to our children, so that they can see "the works which he had done for Israel."
Good post -
Jdg 2:10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
Thank you, there was intention to put this in the post as this is the verse that is used to indite Joshua. I dont discount that there was a lack of discipleship among the people. We know that it works and that God commands it (Deut 6:6-7) My assessment is more that once in the promised land, the people started settling themselves. They had the freedom to build and to work and to buy and sell. They were now influenced primarily by their neighborhood rather than the leader Joshua. While entering in, they traveled and fought together, once land was assigned, much became "to each his own." This is where at once many fathers did not do their job. Joshua committed to all that his family would follow God, I expect that his kids knew the great workings of God, as well as all others around him that would listen. Those from the families of the murmerers and the jealous were not thankful (we know where that road heads) - they were discipled in that fashion and therefore little was made of what God had done. Thanks for bringing that out - I appreciate it!
Post a Comment