Joshua had a message for the children of Israel and the timing of it is important. Joshua 23:1 says, “A long time afterward…”

After the slavery. After the wandering. After the wondering. After the hunger and thirst. After the battles were fought.

A long time afterward. Now they are experiencing rest and peace. And, during this period in their lives, Joshua warns them.

👉Remain disciplined in your walk with God.

👉Remain devoted to God.

👉Remain diligent in avoiding idols.

It’s the difference between following someone in a strange place vs familiar territory. If you’re comfortable and at ease, you might allow a little more distance between you and the person you’re following. Joshua reminds them that they need to cling to God just as tightly in times of rest as in times of war.

Joshua 23:12 is powerful. “Do not cling to the thing you’ve been delivered from!” What are some ways we may do that today? Cling to something from which the Lord has delivered us?

👉Maybe we look back with longing like Lot’s wife (Genesis 19:24-26.) Or like the children of Israel who romanticized bondage the moment freedom felt uncomfortable.

👉We hold on to anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc (Colossians 1:13-14.) The Lord is working to restore a relationship or refresh a spirit but we don’t want to let go of those feelings and the false sense of power they give us.

👉We continue to sit in shame and refuse to embrace the grace offered to us in Christ (Zephaniah 3:19.)

What are we clinging to today? God (Joshua 23:8 or something else (Joshua 23:12?)

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