Today
we shall finish the study of the Book of Joshua and begin with the Book of
Romans. As we alternate
between the Old Testament and the New Testament, we hope that we will come to
appreciate the richness of God’s Word in both Testaments.
We have come to the end of the Book of Joshua which mentions the deaths of Joshua and Eleazar and the bones of Joseph. Let us use some time to reflect on their lives today:
(1) As we reflect on the life of Joshua, we naturally associate his life with that of Moses. Caleb and Joshua were the only ones in their generation (that came out of Egypt) who could see and enter the Promised Land (which not even Moses could).
a. What distinguished Joshua from the rest of the spies?
b. Subsequently, he was privileged to be the aide of Moses — the closest to Moses in his communion with God whether in the Tent of the Meeting or on the mountain. How special and precious was such a role he occupied? What had this meant to him?
c. He was also the field general in the battles east of Jordan under the command of Moses. How did this experience prepare him in his eventual role as the successor to Moses?
d. Now, in the book of Joshua, we have read how he assumed the leadership after Moses. How would you compare him with Moses in the following terms:
- His leadership
- His relationship with the people
- His walk with God
e. If you were to write a short epitaph on his tomb stone, what might you write?
(2) Reflect on v. 31 carefully. We know this period of history was succeeded by the times of the judges and the spiritual condition of the people went downhill quickly. What might be the reason for such a drastic change? What lesson can you learn from them?
(3) The wish of Joseph in Genesis 50:25 was honored. How does this speak to the faith of Joseph and the faithfulness of God?
(4) Eleazar was one of the sons of Aaron. He witnessed the sins of Aaron (the making of the golden calf in particular), and the death of his other brothers in the hand of God (Lev. 10). After the death of Aaron, he ministered as the High Priest and co-leader with Moses (Num. 20:28). At the death of Moses, he continued to lead the people in his capacity, together with Joshua, especially in the allotment of lands to the various tribes (Jos. 14:1) and was responsible for the inquiring of the Lord in making decisions in this respect (Jos. 19:51). Given the exceptional leadership role of Moses and Joshua, why was he needed? How important was his role?
(5) What is the main message to you today that you can apply to your life?
今天我們會讀完約書亞記。明天我們按照「五年靈修計劃」的讀經編排次序開始研讀羅馬書。請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
這段經文在總結約書亞記時，談到他和祭司以利亞撒的死亡和約瑟的骸骨運回示劍埋葬。讓我們用點時間思想這幾位人物的生命。
(1) 想到約書亞的一生，我們不禁聯想起摩西來。那個世代的以色列人只有約書亞和迦勒得進應許地，連摩西也不得進入。
a. 約書亞與他那世代的以色列人有什麼不同？
b. 摩西在領導以色列人時，約書亞是他的助手：他是摩西在會幕和山上與神交通、對話時最接近的人。約書亞的位份有什麼寶貴之處？對他有何特別意義？
c. 約書亞也是戰場上的將領：在摩西(禱告) 領導之下，他率領以色列人連連得勝。這些經驗怎樣準備他作摩西的承繼人？
d. 約書亞記就是他承接摩西作領袖的事蹟記載。你可以怎樣把他與摩西作比較：
i. 作為以色列人的領袖；
ii. 與百姓的關係，和
iii. 與神的關係。
e. 你會在約書亞的石碑上寫上什麼碑文？
(2) 請細思第31節。為何在約書亞和長老死後，進入士師時代，以色列人與神的關係完全改變呢？我們可以從他們身上學個什麼功課？
(3) 為何在結束時特別提到約瑟在創世記50:25的遺願得到實現？這件事可以給我們看到什麼？
(4) 以利亞撒是亞倫的兒子之一：他目睹父親的失敗(特別是金牛犢事件) 和親眼看見自己兩個兄弟被神擊殺(利10章) 。在亞倫死後，他承接作大祭司(民20:28) ；在摩西死後，他繼續作祭司與約書亞同工，帶領以色列人。在分地給眾支派時，應是他求問神的(書14:1，19:51) 。既有像摩西和約書亞如此與神親近的領袖，以利亞撒的位份是否多餘？他有什麼重要性，連這書卷的結束也要提到他的去世？
(5) 今日對你主要的提醒是什麼？你可以怎樣應用在你的生命中？
When an exceptionally good and capable leader leaves, we often like to say that you can replace the position, but not the person. Such was certainly the case with Moses. One can imagine the pressure that Joshua had in being appointed the successor of Moses.
As I come to the close of the Book of Joshua and read about his death at a hundred and ten, I can’t help but think if Joshua did measure up to the expectations of the people and how did he compare with Moses.
As I flip through the pages of the Book of Joshua, I am amazed to see that comparison with Moses was never a problem with Joshua. Time and again, it is said that he simply carried out what the Lord commanded through Moses. In other words, Joshua never aspired to be like Moses or be compared to him. He simply sought to be a faithful servant of both the Lord and Moses. He simply accepted who he was. He never pretended to be someone he was not.
I also admire his courage. Time and again also, the Lord sought to encourage him, telling him to be strong and courageous. The more the Lord encouraged him, the more obvious it was that Joshua was truly afraid, yet he never complained, he never thought of quitting, and he never showed his fear. He was willing to learn to trust God. It is fair to say that his life was one of constant battles, and yet he was fine with it because he knew it was his calling.
Finally, Joshua impressed me as a family man, although his family was hardly mentioned. He did mention his family though, and that was when he challenged the people of Israel to make a decision whether to serve the Lord or other gods. “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord,” he said. (Jos. 24:15) It was obvious that he was not serving the Lord by himself, he had the support of his household, perhaps, even in the delay of receiving his share of the inheritance. (Jos. 19:49-50)
If I were to write his epitaph, I would simply write: A faithfully selfless servant without an ego.
當一個卓越的領袖離開時，我們總以為他是難以代替的。相信在摩西離世時，以色列人多是這樣想的。換言之，約書亞承繼摩西，他所受的壓力是很大的。
故此，當讀到約書亞記最後的這一段，記載到他去世時正一百一十歲，我不禁在想，他究竟能否達到百姓的期望？他能否與摩西相比？
回想約書亞的一生，使我感到驚訝的是他似乎從來沒有想到要與摩西相比。聖經屢次的告訴我們，他是在執行神藉著摩西所吩咐的話。是的，他並沒有希望自己是摩西，也沒有要與他比較。他只是甘心繼續作神和摩西的僕人。他簡單的接受自己是誰，從不裝作，也不看自己過於所當看的。
我亦非常佩服他的勇氣。聖經不斷的提到神對他說鼓勵的話，叫他剛強壯膽，不要懼怕。其實，神要這麼多次的鼓勵他，正好說明他內心確有懼怕。但他從沒有埋怨過，沒有退縮，也沒有顯出他內心的恐懼。他是願意學習信靠神的。如果說他的一生是爭戰的人生，絕不是誇張的，但他明白這正是他的召命。
最後，我尊重約書亞，因為他顧念自己的家庭。不少所謂卓越的領袖的家庭是破碎的。約書亞帶領全家一起事奉耶和華(書24:15) 。對，他的家人要與他一起為事奉神作出相當的犧牲，就如在分地的事上，要等到其他以色列人都分到地業後，才輪到他一家得地業(19:49-50) 。但至終沒有影響全家的事奉耶和華的決心。
故此，若要我為他作墓碑文，相信我會這樣的寫：一個忠心、顧家、沒有野心的神僕！