THE DEATH OF JOSHUA

PROCLAMATION

“And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of The Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old.  And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnah-serah, which is in Mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.”  Joshua 24:29-30 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In chapter twenty-three Joshua addressed all of the leaders of Israel.  In chapter twenty-four he addresses all of the people of Israel.  They gathered at Shechem because it is the place where they would conduct the solemn burial of the bones of Joseph.  The purpose of this gathering was a rededication of the people and the solemn renewing of their covenant with The Lord God. (Joshua 24:1)  Joshua told the people what thus saith The Lord.  He recounted how He took Abraham from beyond the Euphrates River and led him throughout Canaan.  He gave him many descendants.  He gave him Isaac, and to Isaac He gave Jacob who went down into Egypt. (Joshua 24:2-4)  He said that He sent Moses and Aaron to bring them out of Egypt.  He parted the Red Sea and led them into the wilderness where they lived for a long time.  Then He brought them across the Jordan River and gave them Jericho and all of the land that He promised their forefathers. (Joshua 24:5-13)  Joshua then told them to fear The Lord and serve Him faithfully.  They were to put away all of the idols that their ancestors worshiped on the other side of the Euphrates River, and while in Egypt, and the gods of the Amorites in whose land they lived.  The people said that they would serve The Lord. (Joshua 24:14-18)  Joshua made a covenant for the people with God there at Shechem then he dismissed them. (Joshua 24:19-28)  Joshua died at the age of one hundred and ten years old and was called a servant of God.  The bones of Joseph, which were brought up out of Egypt, were buried at Shechem. (Joshua 24:29-32)  

 

APPLICATION

Moses was a servant of The Lord God.  Joshua, who served Moses and took over after him, was called a servant of The Lord God but only at the end of his life.  It is an honor to be given the title “Servant of God.”  This is the title which all Christians should strive for.  At the end of our life, we all want to hear The Lord God say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant …” (Matthew 25:21)