Joshua’s Farewell Message: A Call to Stay Faithful (Joshua 23:1-16)
As Joshua grew old and neared the end of his life, he gathered the leaders of Israel for an important message. He had led the people into the Promised Land, and they had seen God’s power and goodness firsthand. Now, Joshua wanted to leave them with words of encouragement, warning, and wisdom.
Remembering God’s Help
Joshua began by reminding the people of everything God had done for them. They had faced strong enemies, yet God had given them victory. God had kept His promises, just as He said He would. Joshua wanted them to understand that it was never by their own strength alone—but by God’s help—that they had come this far.
This was a moment to pause and give thanks for how faithful God had been.
Stay Close to God
After reminding them of the past, Joshua urged the people to stay true to God in the future. He told them to keep following God’s law and not to mix with the people who still lived in the land, especially when it came to their gods. Joshua knew that if the Israelites started worshipping other gods, they would lose their way.
He encouraged them to cling tightly to the Lord and to love Him with all their hearts. Staying close to God was the key to continued blessing.
A Serious Warning
Joshua didn’t only speak about blessings—he also gave a strong warning. If the people turned away from God and started following other gods, trouble would come. God would no longer help them defeat their enemies, and the land they had received could be taken from them.
Joshua wanted the people to know that God is loving, but He is also just. Their choices would have real consequences.
One Last Reminder
Joshua ended his message by reminding them that every single promise God had made had come true. God had been completely faithful. In the same way, He would keep His word if the people disobeyed—only this time, it would mean hardship instead of blessing.
This farewell speech wasn’t just about looking back—it was about preparing for the future. Joshua wanted them to keep trusting God and living in a way that honored Him.
Final Thoughts
Joshua’s message is still important for us today. It reminds us to be thankful for what God has done, to stay faithful in our choices, and to take His words seriously. Just like the Israelites, we have a choice to follow God or go our own way. Joshua’s advice is simple but powerful: stay close to God, and trust Him with all your heart.
Joshua 23:1-16 (WEB)
23:1 After many days, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, 2 Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said to them, “I am old and well advanced in years. 3 You have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you. 4 Behold, I have allotted to you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea toward the going down of the sun. 5 The LORD your God will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight. You shall possess their land, as the LORD your God spoke to you.6 “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left; 7 that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them; 8 but hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.9 “For the LORD has driven great and strong nations out from before you. But as for you, no man has stood before you to this day. 10 One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is the LORD your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you. 11 Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.12 “But if you do at all go back, and hold fast to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you; 13 know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no longer drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap to you, a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.14 “Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it. 15 It shall happen that as all the good things have come on you of which the LORD your God spoke to you, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you, 16 when you disobey the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them. Then the LORD’s anger will be kindled against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which he has given to you.”