Title: Joshua's Advice
Content 37. Serious Joshua's Counsel
In anticipation of his own death, Joshua counsels Israel with the attitude of a father to his children. What warms our hearts here is the expression, “Behold, I am going the way of the whole world today” (verse 14). The content of this place reminds me of a good father who feels a sense of urgency from beginning to end, and finally gives advice to his children who remain.
1. Death is inevitable in life
“Today I am going by the way of the whole world” (verse 14), leaving this world is an inescapable law of life. Among the many characters in the Bible, Enoch and Elijah did not experience such physical death.
Death is a fact. Joshua admits it. Christians are detached from this death. This is because Christ presented a new position on this death by means of death and resurrection. There is no escape from death. But death was conquered by the resurrection of Christ. Now, our religious attitude should not be fear of death, but courage, hope, and conviction. Joshua is a staunch believer. He declares that he is going “by the way of the whole world,” but earnestly exhorts him to live “by the will of the Lord your God.”
2. Suffering lives and goes through various forms of life
"I … … I’m going”, which means “you too… … It implies the expression of "I'm going to go." Everyone comes and goes in the world. But coming and going is different. Some people come and go on the path of (1) doing evil things, (2) participating in evil roles, (3) becoming the object of God's wrath, or (4) falling into hell and being punished. Joshua casually says that he goes “the path of the whole world today,” but he takes his religious advice seriously. This shows that his religious attitude is like that. God's workers have different life processes and different attitudes toward leaving. Joshua shows just that.
3. I Have Serious Advice
“As the LORD your God hath spoken to you, every good thing has come upon you” (v. 15), Joshua refers to “every good deed” that God had done in the past. All that God has given is in its “goodness” nature. To receive these blessings, you must first obey God's law and have an attitude to follow God's will. Joshua makes two recommendations here.
(1) You remember the former.
“As all good things have come upon you” (v. 15), this is Joshua's assessment of the former historical fact. History is a record of facts. Therefore, it is very important to use it as a reference and examine the will of God revealed in it. God taught two lessons through previous history. ①Something good happened by God, ②Something bad happened. These historical facts are very important for the present and future. If you “make great effort and observe and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses” (Joshua 23:6), if you do not follow the teachings of the book of the law, “ominous things will happen” (verse 15). Joshua refers to this fact and exhorts Israel to live according to God's will.
(2) There is also the purpose of the recommendation.
It warns of ① the way of owning and living in this beautiful land and ② the danger of being “extinct” (verse 15) in this beautiful land. These two paths extend not only to reality but also to spiritual life. This extends not only to himself, but also to his descendants. After enumerating the conditions under which “good things” can happen, Joshua warns that “ominous things” will happen if such actions are not taken. If we do not receive blessings from God, it is no different than a curse. Many people in the world sometimes misunderstand curses. It is asserted that God, who is good in nature, “does not do evil things (verse 15) to human beings. But such an attitude is the result of a misunderstanding of God's justice. God is fair. Blessings are given to those of God who live according to the will of God. However, there is only wrath and judgment for those who turn and oppose God. Joshua emphasizes this fact.
4. Life has freedom of choice
“If you… … Breaking the covenant... … wrath will come upon you” (verse 16), Joshua was the last image of a father who broke his children right before he died and gave them last advice, but here he appears as a terrible prophet and warning. It is the content of the assumption of “if” this should not happen, but if it does.
The first condition on which judgment comes is “If you break the covenant that the LORD your God has commanded you.” These are the “ordinances, laws, and ordinances” that “command” be done. To do or not to do this is entirely up to the people. God has given “principles” by which to do so. This is the principle of God's work. God does not tell people what to do vaguely, but provides a principle for how to do it. It is entirely human choice to pursue it. If you follow it, you will live “in the beautiful land”, but if you “break the covenant,” you will quickly perish.
Christ has provided these two ways. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and many go in by it, because the gate is narrow and stray that leads to life, and few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). The choice is made only once. But the consequences are too serious. There is a way “to perish quickly in the good land that the LORD has given”, and there is a way to thrive there. Joshua speaks seriously about these two paths.