Tuesday: All the earth goes this way

From Joshua 23-24:

1. Joshua reiterated the message that was in Deuteronomy 28 and 31 regarding the blessings and curses. It is amazing, after all the things that the Israelites saw and all the many times that they were warned, that they still did not comply with God's word.

2. All the earth goes this way - Joshua says he is about to go the way of all the earth, meaning he is about to die. I guess I never thought of it that way, but it is true. All the earth is heading towards death - every living thing. It is amazing that I still see articles today that claim that we are getting closer and closer to immortality. Even in bible times, God said that our lives would be seventy or eighty years. So things have not really changed since the time of Moses. So really our lifespans are not getting any longer. In fact, it is becoming more common to see people living a shorter time due to all of the additives in food, or the pollution in the water / air, or whatever else. If one does research, they will likely find that those who live longer lives usually grew up out in the country and were away from all our supposed "high tech" medical advances, etc.

3. One very famous phrase is frequently quoted from this passage. "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua was at the age where he realized he could not influence the Israelites or force them. However, he pretty much said that regardless of what the rest of the Israelite nation did, he was going to follow.

4. One hundred and ten years old! Joshua was one of the few lucky ones to live to such an advanced age. I cannot recall anyone after him who lived much beyond 100.