What story will you tell?

Our theme for 2024 is “Possessing the Land”

We are at the end of our study on the book of Joshua.

We have been hearing stories of courage and obedience (or disobedience) as Joshua and the Israelites begin to possess the land that God gave them.

Last week we talked about special cities that were interspersed throughout the tribes.

Cities of refuge and cities for the Levites.

And the cities of refuge were also Levitical cities.

Which tells us something about God’s priority for what His people should be doing - making place for justice.

We are going to be wrapping up our time in Joshua and it is a time for reflection and renewal.

There is one last story about the two and a half tribes on the other side of the Jordan.

They made their own place of worship and it nearly caused a civil war.

But instead it caused everyone to pause and take inventory.

Who are we?

What is our purpose?

Why do we do what we do?

Bob Dylan was a singer/songwriter who influenced many prominent musicians during the 1960’s and 70’s with his thoughtful and provoking lyrics. In 1979 he put out a song called “Gotta Serve Somebody” which was the beginning of his foray into gospel music. You see,according to Wikipedia, Bob Dylan had had an encounter with Jesus Christ.

Dylan believed he had experienced a vision of Christ in his Tucson hotel room. "Jesus did appear to me as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords," he would later say. "There was a presence in the room that couldn't have been anybody but Jesus ... Jesus put his hand on me. It was a physical thing. I felt it. I felt it all over me. I felt my whole body tremble. The glory of the Lord knocked me down and picked me up."

In “Gotta Serve Somebody” Bob Dylan list all the random choices we make, but only one choice defines them all: You Gotta Serve Somebody. It may be the devil or it may be the Lord - but you gotta serve somebody.

Joshua comes to the same conclusion toward the end of his life.

Joshua had also had an encounter with the Commander of the Army of the Lord.

Joshua also had to make a choice - God is not for or against you - the question is whether or not you are with Him?

Joshua’s constant exhortation is to be strong and courageous -

But strength and courage come from our alliance with God.

The reflection that we do at the end of Joshua is to look back and see how the story has unfolded.

God has done his part, but have we done our part?

God has kept His promises, but have we kept our promises to God?

Are our hearts clear and our motives pure?

Have we stayed true to our purpose?

As we follow Joshua’s reflection, do your own reflection.

What story will you tell?

Have you kept your promises?

One of the classic five stages of grief is bargaining. THis is the stage where people say things like, “God I will do anything is you let my loved one live!’ Or “God, I will do anything if you bring my loved one back to me!”

In these moments we are wrestling with a lack of control over our circumstances. Bargaining is a way of saying, “Well maybe if I promise to do something, things will change?”

How many of those promises do we actually keep?

If bargaining is just an attempt to assert some control, what happens when we regain control?

We do exactly what we want to - of course!

Our promises to God have to go beyond bargaining to complete surrender.

This is not about what God can or should do for you.

This is about recognizing who God is and what he requires of each of us.

Our promises are not a way to manipulate God, but an appropriate response to what God has communicated to us.

Remember what God said.

Joshua 22:1–3 ESV

1 At that time Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 2 and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. 3 You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the Lord your God.

These were two and a half tribes with inheritance on the East Side of the Jordan

The passage here is a repetition of a similar passage in the opening of Joshua.

It’s a “bookend” to the story, highlighting the faithfulness of the tribes on the East side of the Jordan to keep their promise and go to battle for the tribes on the West side who are claiming their inheritance.

If the Book of Joshua is being written, or at least edited during the exile, then this also serves as a reminder that Israel was once united around a common purpose.

The reminder points back to Moses receiving the Ten Commandments

And Israel making a covenant with God at Mount Sinai.

Deuteronomy 10:12–13 NLT

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. 13 And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.

Israel promised to do that, and it seems that for a while they did.

Or at least some did.

It seems like in ever generation there are at least a few who follow God faithfully.

However, the majority always seem to do whatever they want.

All the while pretending to be religious or non-religious but good people or whatever the current trend may be.

It’s bargaining, but it’s not exactly obedience.

Remember to continue in obedience.

Joshua 22:4–6 ESV

4 And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 5 Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” 6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.

Remember that repetition in the Bible is emphasis.

What words have you heard repeated?

Command, promise, remember, be careful.

Joshua seems to be commending them, but is he also warning them?

“You’re doing good” but be sure to keep it up.

When do we usually make our biggest mistakes?

When times are bad or when they are good?

What usually goes before failure?

Proverbs 18:12 ESV

12 Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 16:18 CEV

18 Too much pride will destroy you.

There is a good kind of pride too - everybody needs to hear “well done” once in a while.

But good pride keeps God in His rightful place and everything else in perspective.

My obedience is not really about me - its me responding to and empowered by God’s grace and love.

1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT

10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

Do you see how that works?

We can be confident because our confidence is not really in ourselves, but in God!

I can do my part because God did His part.

Yes, I do my part - I work hard at it - but its all God!

When its not really about you, but a gift from God- then it frees you to be generous with God’s gifts.

Remember to share what you have received.

Joshua 22:7–8 ESV

7 Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua had given a possession beside their brothers in the land west of the Jordan. And when Joshua sent them away to their homes and blessed them, 8 he said to them, “Go back to your tents with much wealth and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.”

The tribe of Manasseh had a unique situation in that half of the tribe was West of the Jordan.

When Joshua began the conquest of the land, they were not to take any of the plunder.

That may have been a test, or it may be that there was something about these cities, like disease (or some have suggested genetic experimentation) that it all had to be destroyed.

There were some sizable and wealthy tribes in the North, such as Hazor, where Joshua allowed Israel to take the plunder.

They could use the wealth of the tribes that had resisted them to secure their foothold in the land - that is how war works.

But to the tribe of Manasseh which is geographically divided, Joshua tells them to be sure and share the wealth with their cousins on the other side of the river.

Why? Because you can only do what you do because other people are supporting you - backing you up.

The soldier who puts his life on the line on the battle field is dependent on dozens of other enlisted persons who -

Maintain the supply line

analyze information

facilitate communication

making sure that the soldier has the best possible chances to do his (or her) job well.

That’s why everyone should share in the spoils.

Moses commanded this in the wilderness.

Numbers 31:27 NLT

27 Then divide the plunder into two parts, and give half to the men who fought the battle and half to the rest of the people.

And David had the same policy.

1 Samuel 30:23–25 CEV

23 But David said: My friends, don’t be so greedy with what the Lord has given us! The Lord protected us and gave us victory over the people who attacked. 24 Who would pay attention to you, anyway? Soldiers who stay behind to guard the camp get as much as those who go into battle. 25 David made this a law for Israel, and it has been the same ever since.

But do you see the attitude behind the request for generosity?

Be generous because this isn’t really about you anyway!

Everything you have has been given to you by God and people God used to get you to where you are.

Your generosity acknowledges this fact.

Keep your promises because your promises are what binds you to God and to others.

Our commitments are what weaves us together into something much bigger than any of us.

Are your motives pure?

The difference between bargaining and obedience is often invisible to anyone but ourselves.

Nobody else knows why you do what you do.

Nobody else knows if you are doing it to please God or to appease God.

There's a difference and its huge!

Is your altar an idol?

Joshua 22:10–12 ESV

10 And when they came to the region of the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of imposing size. 11 And the people of Israel heard it said, “Behold, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built the altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel.” 12 And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them.

OK. What’s the big deal you say?

The two and a half tribes on the East side of the Jordan made an altar for religious sacrifice.

We said last time that there were priestly cities all over the land.

And there are cities of refuge appropriately spaced so that anyone could reach them.

But there is only one tabernacle and that is currently located centrally on the west side of the Jordan.

That is the only place where sacrifices for sin are to be offered.

There are a lot of things about our understanding of God and religion that differ from place to place - we call that contextualization.

But there are some things that must stay the same.

John 14:6 NLT

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

1 Timothy 2:5 CSB

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,

Even today, as Christians, there is only one way and one sacrifice - Jesus.

So when someone builds an altar on the other side of the river, what is your first thought?

Or when someone opens up a church on the other side of town…?

Are they worshipping the same God?

If they are just like us, then why don’t they come over here?

Is it an altar or an idol?

I don’t know - it depends why they are doing it?

But be careful - because when you accuse them of building an idol instead of an altar, you might just be telling everyone that your altar has become an idol to you!

This is not about worshipping God anymore - it’s about you!

Is your sacrifice in rebellion?

Joshua 22:21–25 ESV

21 Then the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel, 22 “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against the Lord, do not spare us today 23 for building an altar to turn away from following the Lord. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself take vengeance. 24 No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 For the Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the Lord.’ So your children might make our children cease to worship the Lord.

So this is the reply of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Mannaseh - only God knows - let Him judge!

They point right back up to God and say - this is not about us - its about Him.

That’s worship - giving the glory back to God and doing what we do out of reverence and honor to Him.

This is an altar, not an idol - at least not yet.

Yes, we are going to offer sacrifices, but not the ones that you can only offer in the tabernacle - the burnt offerings and the peace offerings.

We can still offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise!

On face value, here is no rebellion here - just wanting to honor God.

But lets look a little deeper - why do you really want to do this?

Well, honestly, we are afraid. - afraid of what?

Afraid of being left out.

Afraid of being singled out.

Afraid of being different.

Afraid of rejection.

I’t not evident yet, but there is a root of idolatry just below the surface.

They are afraid - and it’s not a godly fear.

It’s not even real yet - they are afraid of what may happen.

They are afraid for future generations but they are planting the seeds of idolatry for future generations by following their fears.

But I only know that because I read the rest of the Old Testament.

For right now, their argument is convincing enough for Joshua and for Phineas the Priest.

Is your worship a witness?

Joshua 22:32–34 ESV

32 Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the chiefs, returned from the people of Reuben and the people of Gad in the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to them. 33 And the report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. And the people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them to destroy the land where the people of Reuben and the people of Gad were settled. 34 The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, “For,” they said, “it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.”

So here is the official report from the High Priest - it’s not a competing altar - it’s a witness.

What is a witness?

A witness is something that stands for or points to something else.

Like a witness in court represents their testimony as truth.

In the OT a witness was often an object which was a reminder of agreement or an event - like Jacob building an altar to remind him of his encounter with God.

This altar is supposed to be like that one, not an altar to a different god, but a replica of the one at Shiloh.

It is a witness, a reminder of the presence of God at Shiloh.

That seems good enough for now, but later King Jeroboam would build altars in the north and in the south that would complete with the worship of YHWH and would, in fact be idols, not witnesses.

Is your purpose clear?

So why is all of this in the book of Joshua?

First of all, because Moses was a great record keeper and that apparently didn’t stop with Moses.

And secondly because the Jews, during the exile are pouring though ancient manuscripts and trying to make an orderly account of their story.

What happened? How did we get here? What went wrong?

The answer is that they lost sight of their purpose and that is why the stories of Joshua need to be told.

It’s not just courage we need, but conviction.

Courage comes, not from might but from purpose.

And lets be clear about what that purpose is.

Hold your course!

Joshua 23:6–11 ESV

6 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, 7 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, 8 but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day. 9 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. 10 One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. 11 Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.

Hold your course - don’t turn to the right or to the left.

Don’t get distracted.

In Neil Anderson’s book The Bondage Breaker he has an illustration of the Christian life which he calls The Gauntlet. You are looking own this street and Jesus is at the end of it. And as you walk down the street toward Jesus, everyone and everything is trying to get your attention. But just keep your eyes on Jesus.

Victory in the Christian life does not come from engaging every thought or demon that tries to distract us.

Victory comes from keeping our eyes on Jesus and moving consistently in His direction.

Yes there will be battles along the way, but don’t loose sight of what you are fighting for.

Don’t let the worries of life or even fear distract you from your purpose.

It’s all about Jesus!

Loving Him

Following Him

Becoming more like Him.

That’s your goal!

Remember your history.

Joshua 24:1–3 ESV

1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. 3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac.

Why is idolatry such a big deal?

Because that is where you came from, and you are not supposed to go back.

God called Abraham out of a land where there where lots of god who were in rebellion.

God revealed himself to Abraham as YHWH - not like any of the other gods.

And God taught Abraham to live by faith, believing and trusting Him for the impossible.

Add YHWH gave him Isaac.

God gave them everything they now own.

Joshua 24:11–13 ESV

11 And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the leaders of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And I gave them into your hand. 12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow. 13 I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.’

Pride comes from forgetting how you got to where you are and not giving God credit fro what He has done.

That is why the Bible so often commands us to remember.

Psalm 105:1–6 CSB

1 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell about all his wondrous works! 3 Boast in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 5 Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced, 6 you offspring of Abraham his servant, Jacob’s descendants—his chosen ones.

It’s up to you to choose what you will focus on.

Make your choice.

Joshua 24:14–15 ESV

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua concludes with the challenge, “Choose this day whom you will serve”

You gotta serve somebody!

It may be the devil or it may be the Lord - but you gotta serve somebody!

And then Joshua declares what his focus will be.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”

That is courage.

It is taking a decisive stand.

It is staying true to your commitment.

It is serving a purpose bigger than yourself.

It is making your choice and carving it in stone.

Joshua 24:26–28 ESV

26 And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.” 28 So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.

So that was Joshua’s story.

What kind of story do you want to tell?

Questions for reflection:

How would you describe your relationship with God? Is it more like bargaining? Or is it complete surrender? How can we ensure that our obedience to God goes beyond bargaining and leads to complete surrender?

Why is it important to differentiate between an altar and an idol? How can we ensure that our worship is a witness pointing to God rather than a form of rebellion driven by fear or insecurity?

How does staying focused on Jesus and our purpose help us navigate distractions and challenges in our Christian walk? What steps can we take to hold our course and stay focused on our purpose?