Joshua 24:1-13
1 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, their heads, their judges, and their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods.
3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac.
4 To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, and to Esau I gave Mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.
5 Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt by what I did in its midst; and afterward I brought you out.
6 So I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and Egypt pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.
7 But when they cried out to the Lord, He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them and covered them; and your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness for a long time.
8 Then I brought you into the land of the Amorites, who lived beyond the Jordan, and they fought with you; but I handed them over to you, and you took possession of their land when I eliminated them before you.
9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, rose up and fought against Israel, and he sent messengers and summoned Balaam the son of Beor to curse you.
10 But I was not willing to listen to Balaam. So he had to bless you, and I saved you from his hand.
11 You crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho; and the citizens of Jericho fought against you, and the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Therefore I handed them over to you.
12 Then I sent the hornet before you and it drove out the two kings of the Amorites from you—not by your sword nor your bow.
13 And I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you have lived in them; you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’
Renewal of the Covenant in Shechem (1)
At Shechem
The book of Joshua ends with the renewal of the covenant at Shechem. This covenant took the form of a suzerainty treaty, which was a common form of covenant in the ancient Orient. This was a covenant between the Lord God, the king, and the Israelites, His subjects. (1) Joshua gathered all tribes of Israel at Shechem. This was the same place where Joshua had built an altar, as mentioned in Chapter 8. (2) This also was a memorable place for the whole nation. Abraham built an altar here in Genesis 12:6. Also, in Genesis 35:2–4, Jacob stopped here and commanded his family to throw away the idols.
Joshua’s recollection
Recollection of history begins with Terah. (1) Terah once dwelt beyond the Euphrates River and was an idolater. (2) The Lord God chose his son Abraham and led him to the land of Canaan. Abraham became the father of the Israelites. (3) Abraham had a son, Isaac, and from him, Jacob and Esau were born. The one who succeeded in the covenant was Jacob. (4) Jacob and his sons descended to Egypt and lived there as slaves for 400 years. (5) The Israelites exited Egypt, led by Moses and Aaron. The Lord divided the Sea of Reed (Red Sea) for the Israelites to cross to the other side. (6) Then the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness. (7) Balak, the king of Moab, summoned Balaam to curse the Israelites, but the Lord God did not allow it. (8) Then the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and inhabited the promised land. A blessed life was given to them. The history of the Israelites is truly a history of the Lord’s grace and miracle. Recollecting such a history, Joshua pressed the people regarding the renewal of the covenant. How do you recollect your journey as a Christian up to this point? Do you see the Lord’s grace and miracle? If so, let’s recall the love you felt and the commitment you made when you became a Christian and “renew the covenant,” just as same as the Israelites.
Today's prayer
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I remember with gratitude Your grace and miracles that have worked in my life. I renew my commitment now. Please empower me. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.