ODJ: what God has done

July 27, 2015 

READ: Joshua 23:1-14 

You have seen everything the LORD your God has done for you (v.3).

Recently I had the privilege of speaking at a summer camp for boys, aged 9 to 12. During that week, the Holy Spirit moved and twelve campers received Jesus as their Saviour. On the last night, one 9 year old boy—who had received salvation during the camp—approached me and said, “You changed my life!” I smiled and replied, “I’m so happy, but God is the One who truly changed your life!” I knew it was God who had done the work in the boy’s heart.

In Joshua’s final words to Israel, we find the well-seasoned warrior, now a “very old man”, pointing to God as the reason for all their victories. “You have seen everything the LORD your God has done for you during my lifetime. The LORD your God has fought for you” (Joshua 23:2-3). His focus wasn’t on himself or his accomplishments, but on what God had “done,” what He “will” do (v.5) and the importance of being “careful to follow” God and His commands (v.6).

Successes in life can sometimes cause us to think it’s all about us. We can become prideful and think it was our performance, our abilities, our resources that made good things happen (Deuteronomy 8:11-18). Much like the idolatry Joshua warned the Israelites to avoid in his closing address (Joshua 23:7, 24:15), our self-worship will lead to dreadful destinations.

Instead, as we recognise that it’s God who “fights for [us]” and truly love and worship Him (23:10-11), we’ll find praise for what He’s done rolling off our lips. We’ll humbly acknowledge it’s all about Him! As Joshua stated, “Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true” (v.14).

—Tom Felten

365-day-plan: John 7:1-31