As I read our text for today from Joshua 23:1-16, I thought this might be the text I would liked used for my funeral. This is sometimes called “The last sermon of the dying hero and leader.” It is a literary form used to preach to an audience. Covenant theology is an important theme in these texts. In the context of Joshua’s day, the message is a warning. Rest is not the final word for life in the promised land. Temptation is still present and can easily overpower the people if they are not careful. Blessing can last only as long as total faithfulness to Yahweh continues. When Israel begins to experiment with other gods, trying to be like the nations and worship every god possible, trouble is imminent. They could lose the promised land. They could end up wandering around searching for a home. They could experience destruction, death, and disintegration of their identity as the people of God.
The sad thing is that this is exactly what happened. Israel was lured in by her culture. The temptation to be like others resulted in a divided monarchy, a loss of the land, a loss of their worship system, and judgment by God. During the exile, Israel must have wondered if their God has fought and lost? If so, maybe they need another god, one who can fight and win with modern weaponry and in modern political reality? The answer to this question is that it is the wrong question to ask. The answer is not in political power in the short term. The answer is the longer historical perspective. God proved his power to conquer long ago. The exile only proves God’s power to be self-consistent as he fulfilled His word even when it had negative consequences. The real issue is whether Israel has learned the lesson of history.
I wonder if we have learned from our history. The amazing thing is that we seem to be experiencing the same historical difficulties. Have we let the false gods of our world intermingle among us to the point that the church is now a pluralistic entity? Are we ready to face our own disloyalty, our own faithlessness, are we ready to repent, are we ready to recommit to our God and trust in Him through thick and thin? I wonder as a Christian that mourns our loss of values, morals, and identity if God is not trying to provide us with the grace of a warning to return to Him? God has proved his power to conquer long ago. Our exile only proves God’s power to be self-consistent as He continues to fulfill His word even when it may have negative consequences. The real issue is whether we have learned the lesson of history.
