In his farewell speech to the Israelites, Joshua emphasized that it was Israel’s responsibility to continue serving God faithfully.
“Therefore be very steadfast to observe and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right nor to the left,
So that you may not be mixed with these nations left here among you, or make mention of the names of their gods, or swear by them, or serve them, or bow yourselves down to them,
But hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day” (Joshua 23:6-8).
When God called Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), his people were meant to show the world God’s character and nature.
In Joshua’s time, if the Israelites mixed Canaanite worship with their own, they would lose their distinct identity. The Canaanites wouldn’t see God’s true nature because it would be blended with their pagan practices.
That’s why God, through Joshua, told them to know and do God’s law, to not mix with the nations, to not serve their gods, and to hold fast to their commitment to him.
Substitutes for God
An idol is a substitute for God. We might say we believe in God, but if we give our devotion to something else, we mix our trust in God with something far less.
Richard Foster often mentions that the three main idols in American culture are money, sex, and power. There are other idols too, like prestige and popularity, that can pull us away from worshiping God.
The issue with these substitutes is that when we mix our lives with them, we can’t show others the true nature and character of God.
Another big problem with idol worship is that we start to resemble the gods we serve.
- If we worship money, we might manipulate or oppress others to get more of it.
- If we follow our sexual desires, we can distort the relationship meant for a husband and wife.
- If we chase power, we’ll do anything to gain it.
On top of that, if we say we’re Christians but still follow these idols, people won’t see any difference between us and those without faith in God.
Therefore
Joshua’s speech had a clear conclusion: love God.
He also gave a warning. If people choose to love substitutes for God, not only will the problems from those sins come crashing down on us, but God will ensure that the things we worship become a scourge in our side.
Turning away from God is never a positive event.
“Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.
For if you turn back and join the survivors of these nations left here among you and intermarry with them, so that you marry their women and they yours,
Know assuredly that the Lord your God will not continue to drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a scourge on your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the Lord your God has given you” (Joshua 23:11-13).
Repentance
Henry Blackaby and Avery Willis were outstanding servants of the Lord in the Southern Baptist community. They are now both in heaven. Years ago, they created a series of cassette tapes with lectures on revival.
I remember one tape where Blackaby mentioned that in the past, when a tragedy like a flood, hurricane, or mass killing happened, the church would come together. People all over town would gather and kneel before God, asking, “Lord, what have we done? Why has this happened to us?”
As we consider idol worship and God’s judgment on a nation, it’s important to ask ourselves how we can repent. How can we come before God and seek His grace and renewal?
We should ask Him to show us how to turn back to Him and how to pray and repent.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Joshua 23 on YouTube today.
Real Voices 