Joshua was no armchair general. He had experienced the real parry and thrust of active warfare.
Joshua knew this world was no place for rubber swords and playroom rocking horses. And his speech was as decisive as his blade. Calling for the leaders of Israel, “for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers” (Jos 23:2)—that is, their spiritual leaders, their family leaders, their judicial leaders, and their military leaders—he gave it to them straight. Here are his rapid-fire points. 1. “You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you” (v 3). Every victory you ever won was because God fought for you. It’s the same today: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom 8:37). 2. “I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain…And the Lord your God will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight” (Jos 23:4-5). The battle isn’t over till it’s over, so don’t quit now. Let’s continue faithful to the finish and “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim 6:12). 3. “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book…lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left” (v 6). Go straight ahead. Simple obedience takes courage and doesn’t detour around difficult consequences. James writes, “The testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (Jas 1:3-4). 4. “Take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God” (Jos 23:11). Is this strange language for a bunch of war vets? No, because the only thing that keeps us loyal to the Lord is love. Here are the three ingredients of Christian manliness: “love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5).