We now come to the closing chapter of Joshua. Once again the covenant is renewed. It was Israel's covenant with God that made them different, without this they were no different than anybody else, in fact they were less than anyone else if anything. We need to always remind ourselves that we are defined by the covenant of the cross.
Before God got hold of Abraham, their ancestors had worshipped other gods. Sometimes we can put an unhealthy fear into people because of what previous generations have done. Now it is quite likely that previous generations have done wrong things. The solution God gave them was first that He called them out from these generations, and then He gave them clear instructions to have nothing to do with false idols.
Next God reminds them of what He did at the Red Sea, and how Balaam had been helpless to curse them. Then He tells them of how He enabled them to conquer the land.
Their response is to be fear the Lord and serve Him with faithfulness, throwing away all false gods.
Joshua seemed to know that the people would fail to serve the Lord. The people deny this, and declare that they will indeed serve the Lord, and the covenant is renewed. Then Joshua died and was buried.
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