Joshua 21-22--Calling It Quits

Ok...Long Long Story...sort of short

1) Israelites are headed to promise land...but that takes a while.

2) Some of the Israelites fall in love with some land just outside of the promised land.

3) God say (paraphrase) "Cool, I will give you this land instead of the Promised Land if that's what you want...but you have to help the other tribes to get their land before you settle down..."

4) Tribes agree and help out...The Promised Land is won, and the tribes finally get to go home.

Enter Joshua!

Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you. Now that the LORD your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

This is a send off that would be worth memorizing...

It is a beautiful combination of affirmation and challenge.

The affermation is something that all christians should wish to be said of them...

It is, basically, this..."You have done everything that God asked you to" and "Now, you can rest"

Living up to all of God's commands is something that is worth striving for...because it results in rest and peace.

The second part (the command) is this

"But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

That is a loaded statement...

something that is worth letting sink in...seriously, it is worth memorizing!