Joshua 23
Dear RTB’ers,
Three times Joshua warns the Israelite leaders that they could lose the Promised Land: until you perish from off this good ground that the LORD your God has given you (v. 13); until He has destroyed you from off this good land that the LORD your God has given you (v. 15); and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that He has given to you. (v. 16) Prophetic words from Joshua… The Northern Kingdom went into exile in 722 BC and the Southern Kingdom in 586 BC. And even today Israel is still battling for their land, with opposition from the Palestinians within their borders, from all their neighboring nations, and from the entire Arab world.
The contrast, again three times: And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you. (v. 3); The LORD your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. (v. 5) For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. (v. 9)
Our choice – Joshua 23:3,5,9 or Joshua 23:13,15,16. The key: Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day. (vv. 6-8) For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the LORD your God has given you. (vv. 12-13) So, what’ll it be: verses 3, 5, 9 or verses 13, 15, 16?
Blessings!