Final Thoughts

Day one hundred ninety-five

This has been an interesting week filled with some challenges, but mostly blessings. July is filled with changes for our household and we are working on making those changes as painless as possible.  Sometimes we are successful and other times we have to pick ourselves up, re-think ourselves, and move forward.  The important thing is we are working through it together.  That is probably the biggest blessing I have seen in my life lately.  The ability my family has to pull together and support each other is what gets us through it!

It seemed necessary to let Heavenly Father know in my prayer that I am aware of that blessing in my life and how grateful I am for it.  It is one of the ways that we try to keep our home a place that the Spirit can visit, another blessing I am grateful for.  Even though I know that I have needs today, I didn't ask for anything, I just thanked Him and let Him know that I love Him and I know that He loves me.  It was a good prayer.

Joshua

The Book of Joshua ends with three burials:  Joshua, Joseph of Egypt, and Eleazar the son of Aaron.  It seems a little sad to end the book in such a way, but as I researched and pondered on it a little, I think there is something to learn from each of these burials.

Joshua - A Grave of Faithfulness (vv 29-31)
The first grave that is mentioned is that of Joshua himself. His grave speaks of the faithfulness of God to His people. God had used this man Joshua to bring the people in the Promised Land and God had used Joshua to lead the people in the right way. Through the life of Joshua, God had proven Himself to be a faithful God.

Those who serve the Lord will learn the truth that God is faithful. He will keep His Word and He will fulfill His promises to you (Rom. 4:21). If you will walk in His will and serve Him, then He will in turn bless your life beyond measure. God is a faithful God!

Joseph - A Grave of Fulfillment (v 32)
The second grave mentioned belonged to a man who had died many centuries before in the land of Egypt. While Joseph was on his deathbed, he made the following prediction, "And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt." Gen 50:24-26

Now, several hundred years later, a grave is dug, a coffin is lowered and Joseph is placed in the ground that was promised hundreds of years before.

The lesson here is that we serve a God who is able to make that which seems impossible a reality for His children (Eph. 3:20). When He makes a promise to use and bless you, if you will serve Him, then you can count on Him being able to do just what He has promised!

Eleazar - A Grave of Finality (v 33)
The last grave marks the death of Eleazar. He was the son of Aaron the first High Priest. His grave is the grave of finality. The death of Eleazar marks the changing of the guard in Israel. All the old timers are gone! All those who came out of Egypt and out of the wilderness are passing from the scene. All those God used in such a mighty fashion are dead. Now, it is time for a new generation to pick up the mantle of service and do something for the Lord.

It is a shame when old soldiers of God pass from the scene. But, it is an even greater shame when those who are left behind do not lift the mantle and carry on for the Lord. Israel turned to idols after the deaths of their great leaders.

Even in their burials these leaders are teaching us something of the Lord!  It is a great way to end the Book of Joshua, with a reminder of God's faithfulness, an example of Him keeping His promises, and the setting up of the continued history of the Israelites.  I have learned so much from my study of this book that I am a little sad that it is ending, but I am looking forward to the lessons to be found in the Book of Judges next!