1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and if it seem evil unto you 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: will serve, whether the gods which your father served that 4 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: were on the side of the flood, or the gods 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. But as 6 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 1: for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 7 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: Joshua twenty four fifteen. Thank you Jesus for giving me 8 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: the strength and dedication to fight until I receive my promise. 9 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: Like Caleb, when the moment comes, and when I am 10 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: thriving in my destiny, I will not stop clinging to 11 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: the Lord. I decree and declare that I will stand steadfast. 12 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: I decree and declare that I will serve the Lord 13 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: all the days of my life, because my greatest accomplishment 14 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: is remaining close to you, Lord. When the pleasures of 15 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: this world try to entie me, I will look at 16 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: all that you have given me, Lord, and I will 17 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: reflect on all the many ways that You've come through 18 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: for me and my family. By doing so, I know 19 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: that the anchor of my heart will take hold of 20 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: you and will allow me not to be tossed like 21 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: a wave going to and fro that's for me and 22 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: my household. We will serve the Lord in Jesus's name. Amen. 23 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: Listening to these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. 24 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: Continue hearing from the Lord by listening to today's Bible 25 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: in a Year, brought to you by Bible in Year 26 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: dot com. 27 00:01:56,160 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 2: Joshua's Farewell. In our last story, we learned of Israel 28 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 2: battling against five allied armies. God sent hail for the 29 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 2: sky and caused the sun to stand still until Israel 30 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 2: prevailed over their foe. In this story, we learn about 31 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 2: Israel transitioning into a brief era of peace and victory. 32 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 2: Joshua calls for the people of Israel to stay steadfast 33 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 2: and obey God before departing to be with his Lord. 34 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 2: As inspired by the Book of Joshua. 35 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the 36 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year. In our last episode, we learned 37 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 3: how God stopped time to give Joshua and his army 38 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,639 Speaker 3: a miraculous victory over five kings and their armies all 39 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 3: at once. Joshua's immense, incredible faith in God and boldness 40 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 3: to make request to God became an example for all 41 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 3: the people and for us generations. Later in today's story, 42 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 3: we'll hear of a time of peace and more victories 43 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 3: for god people as Joshua leaves them with courage. Finally, 44 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 3: we'll hear this great leader's parting words for his people 45 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 3: as he prepares to join those who went before him 46 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 3: in the presence of his God. Let's listen now to 47 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 3: today's reading. 48 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: Blood and struggle. This had marked Israel's past few years 49 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 2: under Joshua. Though the battles were difficult, they watched the 50 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 2: faithfulness of God unfold time and time again before them. 51 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 2: Israel's land increased each week, and it was time for 52 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 2: the land to be divided and given to the twelve 53 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 2: tribes of Israel. Luckily, Moses had guided Joshua and the 54 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 2: elders how to divide up the land before he had died, 55 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: so they began to allocate plots of land as instructed. Caleb, 56 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 2: a humble servant and soldier that was one of the 57 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: twelve spies under Moses, came to Joshua with a request. 58 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 2: I was forty years old when you and I first 59 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 2: saw the promised land as spies. Caleb said, like you, 60 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 2: I did not waver or compromise. I knew from the 61 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 2: very beginning that God would give us the land, and 62 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 2: the Lord has blessed me enough to live another forty 63 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: five years so I may enter into it with my family. 64 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 2: Moses once promised me that all the land I explored 65 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: would be mine, and I have waited long to inherit it. 66 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 2: If you would give me the land promised to me, 67 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 2: I will fight to the very end to defend it. Caleb, 68 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: though eighty five years of age, stood tall and strong. 69 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: Joshua looked at his dearest and closest friend and blessed him. 70 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 2: The two of them had seen an entire generation pass 71 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 2: away before getting to enter into the promised land. They 72 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 2: had endured hunger, war and struggle together. Giving Caleb the 73 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 2: land brought joy to his soul. Caleb gathered a small 74 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 2: army to go and conquer the land that was promised 75 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 2: to him. His armor was old and stained with the 76 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 2: years of war, but the heart had protected was filled 77 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 2: with new life and hope. Caleb offered his daughter's hand 78 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 2: in marriage to whoever would help him conquer the nearby city. 79 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 2: One man rose to the occasion, and he and his 80 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 2: wife were given the nearby springs Caleb's family was blessed 81 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 2: for hundreds of generations. Afterwards, the armies of Israel swept 82 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 2: through the land of Canaan and seized what had been 83 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 2: promised to them. Every tribe went into their land and 84 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 2: dwelled there with their family. God worked with and through 85 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 2: his people and their dreams for almost a hundred years 86 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 2: in the wilderness had been realized. Years had passed, and 87 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: Israel's blades began to collect dust in their homes. Peace 88 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 2: came upon Israel like the slow and rising tide. Joshua 89 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 2: was old, and years of battle had worn his body. 90 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 2: His heart, mind, and soul were preparing to depart from 91 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 2: the earth. Joshua gathered all the people of Israel by 92 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 2: his side, as Moses did before him. Joshua had a 93 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 2: few last commands for the people. Joshua's voice was deep 94 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 2: and raspy, as if it were calloused from years of 95 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: yelling in battle. Moses spoke to the people like a 96 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 2: shepherd did to his sheep, but Joshua spoke to them 97 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 2: as a general did to his beloved soldiers. He raised 98 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 2: his voice and said, you have all seen what God 99 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 2: has done for your sake. You have land for your 100 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 2: children to live and thrive. It stretches from sea to sea. 101 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 2: God will not forsake you, and he will continue to 102 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 2: bring your enemies to their knees before you. Be strong 103 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,919 Speaker 2: and do not waver from keeping God's commands close to 104 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 2: your hearts. Joshua choked up as he spoke, remembering the 105 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 2: tender love and care God had shown them. God was 106 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,919 Speaker 2: truly their conquering king, and it was an honor to 107 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 2: serve him. Joshua continued speaking to the people, saying, cling 108 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 2: to the Lord for our victory, Our land, and our 109 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: lives are nothing without him. One man and God is 110 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 2: enough to destroy an army of thousands. Remember this and 111 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 2: be careful not to stray. Joshua recounted the great and 112 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 2: mighty things God had done for Israel, for his greatest 113 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 2: fear was they would forget how faithful God was to them. 114 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: Without Joshua to remind them, would they truly be steadfast? 115 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,119 Speaker 2: Would they remain a people that clung to their God 116 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:38,679 Speaker 2: as Jacob once did. Time would tell, and Joshua would 117 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 2: not be there to find out. He looked at the 118 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 2: sea of faces listening to him, the children of God. 119 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: What a fickle, flawed and faithless people they were, Yet 120 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 2: God loved them, He fought for them and provided for them. 121 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 2: Joshua smiled, feeling the same selfless love towards them. Joshua 122 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 2: spoke loud and clear for all to hear. There will 123 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 2: be many other things that desire your worship. Evil will 124 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:11,559 Speaker 2: lurk at your doorsteps. So choose. Choose this day whom 125 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: you will serve. Serve the gods of the Amorites or 126 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 2: the gods of Egypt. But as for me and my house, 127 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 2: we shall serve the Lord. A roar of applause followed 128 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 2: Joshua's words. The people answered Joshua, saying, it is God 129 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 2: who has delivered us time and time again. We will 130 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 2: serve the Lord, for he is our God. Joshua shook 131 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 2: his head, smiling. He knew they would not. He knew 132 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 2: that even now some of them kept idols in their tents. 133 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 2: Some of them lived in adultery, greed, and secrecy. You 134 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 2: are not able to, Joshua said, tears falling from his eyes. 135 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 2: The people denied it, telling him that they would be faithful. 136 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 2: So Joshua had them renew their covenant with the Lord, 137 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 2: and they laid a stone in the sanctuary of God. 138 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 2: As a reminder, Joshua departed from the earth at one 139 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 2: hundred ten years old. Joshua's unwavering warrior's spirit led Israel 140 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 2: into many victories. Cities trembled at the name of Joshua, 141 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 2: and entire kingdoms raised their hands and surrender when we came. Yet, 142 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 2: Joshua's greatest triumph was his devotion to God and his 143 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 2: unrelenting desire to serve his people. The people of Israel 144 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 2: would start well and remain faithful to God, but as 145 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 2: Joshua's memory faded, so would their devotion. Yet, Joshua was 146 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 2: never the hero of their story, nor was Moses or Joseph. 147 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 2: It was God that was their steadfast and loyal hero, 148 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 2: and it would be God who would appoint deliverers to 149 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 2: snatch Israel from the jaws of destruction time and time again. 150 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 2: As Joshua breathed his last breath the era of the Judges. 151 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 3: So we begin today's reading with more battles and more victories. 152 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 3: And with every victory, God's glory increased among the people, 153 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,079 Speaker 3: and so did the territory that they possessed. They had 154 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 3: now amassed so much land that they could begin to 155 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 3: portion it out according to how Moses had instructed them 156 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 3: before he died. It she had another step towards the 157 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 3: fulfillment of God's promise to his people. It all began 158 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 3: with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and extended hundreds of 159 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,559 Speaker 3: years into the future, into the life of Moses and 160 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 3: now through Joshua. If there's ever any doubt if God 161 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 3: makes good on his promises, you need only to look 162 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:46,559 Speaker 3: at the story of his people Israel and the faithfulness 163 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 3: of God. What God showed them more and more over 164 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 3: hundreds and hundreds of years. Today's reading brought us back 165 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 3: to Caleb. Loved the story of Caleb, the other spy 166 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,959 Speaker 3: who sided with Joshua. So many years before, God had 167 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 3: allowed him to live and enter the promised land as well, 168 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 3: And now Caleb went to Joshua to ask for the 169 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 3: land that Moses had promised him. So Joshua blessed Caleb's request, 170 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 3: and now an old man, he went into battle one 171 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 3: more time to conquer his territory. He said, God, give 172 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 3: me this mountain, and God gave him a victory, and 173 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 3: he settled with his family, taking hold of the promise 174 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 3: of God. What followed in the life of Israel was 175 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 3: a time of relative peace. Each tribe began to settle 176 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 3: in and to develop their own land and their own lifestyle. 177 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 3: Years passed, and Joshua is now an older man. His 178 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 3: body is weakened by time, but his faith and his 179 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 3: spirit are as strong as ever, And though he knows 180 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 3: his last days are upon him, just as Moses did, 181 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 3: Joshua gathers the people his charge echoes both moses words 182 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 3: to the people and Moses' words to Joshua. Be strong, 183 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 3: Joshua twenty three six through eight records these powerful instructions. Therefore, 184 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 3: be very strong to keep and to do all that 185 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 3: is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, 186 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 3: turning aside from it, neither to the right hand nor 187 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 3: to the left. That you may not mix with these 188 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,439 Speaker 3: nations remaining among you, or make mention of the names 189 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 3: of their gods, or swear by them, or serve them, 190 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 3: or bow down to them. But you shall cling to 191 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 3: the Lord your God, just as you have done to 192 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 3: this day. Joshua had served God and the people with faith, courage, 193 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 3: and strength. But he also knew in all humility that 194 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 3: the victories were not his own, but they belonged to 195 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 3: the Lord. Always the battle belongs to the Lord, and 196 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 3: so does the praise. And if the people were to 197 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 3: experience continued peace, they must stick to the laws of God, 198 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 3: the Ten Commandments, and the promises the covenant that God 199 00:12:56,520 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 3: had made with them. This, of course, would not be easy, 200 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 3: as we'll see in future episodes. Ultimately the people would 201 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 3: fail and fall, showing that the only true solution would 202 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 3: be God himself. And God is able to make things 203 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 3: right when we do the wrong thing. We're going to 204 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: see that in coming episodes. So let's pray together. Dear God, 205 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 3: thank you for the example of Joshua, of his strength, 206 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 3: his courage, his faith and his faithfulness. Lord, May we 207 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 3: also keep our eyes on you, not turning to the 208 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 3: things of this world or the gods of this age, 209 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:33,680 Speaker 3: but live in the hope and the assurance and the 210 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:36,680 Speaker 3: promise that what you have given to us is ours 211 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 3: to possess. In Jesus Christ, May we always look to 212 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 3: you in humility and believe the best is yet to come. 213 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening today to the Bible in a 214 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 3: Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas, pastor of 215 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 3: Prestonwood Baptist Church. Download thepray dot com app and make 216 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 3: prayer a priority in your life. And if you enjoy 217 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 3: this podcasts, share it with others people that you love 218 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 3: and care about, people who want to know the Bible. 219 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:09,199 Speaker 3: Help them understand the Bible as well. This podcast can 220 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 3: make a huge difference in someone's life. If you want 221 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 3: more resources on how to tap into the power of 222 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 3: Jesus Christ in your life, then be sure to visit 223 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 3: Jack Graham dot org.