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As soon as Joshua, and all the elders of Israel who outlived Joshua, had died, then the people departed from the Lord. They soon forgot all that the Lord had done for them. Sooner or later, as we have remarked, the human “props” upon which we are prone to lean give way, and unless we are really leaning upon the Lord we go down with them. There is only One who has promised He will never leave us nor forsake us, only One in whom we will find perfection, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Psalmist said, “I have seen an end of all perfection: but Thy commandment is exceeding broad.” Psalm 119:9696I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. (Psalm 119:96). Let us not expect perfection from any man or woman and then we will not be disappointed. But the Word of God, as our verse tells us, is “broad” enough to meet every situation and to guide us through every difficulty. May we test everything by this perfect standard, and seek to walk with our eyes upon the Lord until that day when faith will be changed to sight. This is the only safe and happy path.
God has been pleased to tell us here of how they buried the bones of Joseph. Joseph had died in faith long before, but he had requested that he should not be buried in Egypt. He wanted to be buried in the land of Canaan when God brought His people back there again. How good it is when faith takes God at His Word, and dies in that confidence that we have a better home, than this “Egypt world” with all its glory could ever give us — we have a home with Christ in glory. Although Joseph did not know all that we know of the wonderful future of the children of God, He trusted in God according to the light he had. It is beautiful to see how his bones were carried through the Red Sea (Exodus 13:1919And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. (Exodus 13:19)) — a figure of the death of Christ — and then brought to Canaan to await the better resurrection (Hebrews 11:3535Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (Hebrews 11:35)). The death of Christ has not only met our need, but also declared God’s “righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Romans 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25). The sin and guilt of all those who died in faith before the cross was met there, as well as the sins of all who have been, and will be, saved since. It is only through the work of Calvary that there can be any blessing to ruined man, whether Joseph or ourselves. Dear reader, are you safe under the blood?
This brings us to the end of the book of Joshua with all its conflicts, and how instructive it is for us. The enemy of our souls will surely do all he can to hinder us from possessing our portion in Christ, and we will have plenty of conflict, too, as Israel did, if we seek to live by faith in the enjoyment of our heavenly blessings. It requires the whole armor of God to stand against the enemy’s wiles, but may we be found faithful. Let us seek grace to go forward in the conflict, possessing more and more of our spiritual inheritance, while holding fast the faithful word” as we have been taught (Titus 1:99Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Titus 1:9)).
One feels that the instruction of this book of Joshua is specially needed today, answering as it does to the Epistle to the Ephesians in the New Testament. These things have been written for our learning, for the enemy is using the same tactics with us as he did with Israel. May the Lord keep us.
ML 07/12/1953