Day 088- The Bible Recap

Today's reading is Joshua 22-24. Here's what stood out to me:

The Reubenites and Gadites had fulfilled their commitment that Moses had them agree to back in Numbers 32 in order for them to live in the land just outside Canaan. Joshua released them but cautioned them to obey the commandments and laws the LORD had given them.

A misunderstanding arose over an altar built by the Reubenites and Gadites in their newly arrived home. The Israelites, based on past behaviors and the LORD's punishment for those behaviors, assumed the altar was built for another god...and they were ready to go to war to protect themselves from God's wrath. However, the altar was built so that their children would know they were part of God's inheritance even though they lived outside of Canaan, the promised land. It was "a witness between them that the LORD was/is God." 22:34

As Joshua was getting older and drawing closer to death, He, like Moses, also gave the Israelites an encouraging but caution filled sermon.

The reminder not to bow down to idols, and the reminder that no nation could stand against them because the LORD was on their side. The reminder that if they adopted the culture and practices of the nations surrounding them, the LORD would no longer be with them. That all God promised came true, but just as the blessings came true, so would the curses if they turned away.

The LORD then spoke through Joshua as he recounted all the ways He provided for the Israelites from Abraham all the way to the present.

The Israelites were presented with a choice...serve the LORD or go your own way and serve other gods. Notice in 24:23 Joshua called them out to put away their foreign gods among them. He wasn't naive to their wandering. They agreed to serving the LORD and Joshua said they were witnesses to themselves. He placed a large stone near the sanctuary to remind them of their promise.

Several times now we have seen the LORD or the leaders He's appointed have people put in place reminders of the LORD's goodness in their lives or the reminder to be faithful to His Word. The LORD knew they and we would be prone to wander, prone to be anxious, and prone to seek fulfillment in all the wrong things. It's important we fill our homes and spaces with these reminders, just like the Israelites were instructed to do.