Chapter 24 A Call to Gratitude, Humility, and Separation—When Joshua was nearing the close of his life he took up a review of the past for two reasons—to lead the Israel of God to gratitude for the marked manifestation of God’s presence in all their travels, and to lead them to humility of mind under a sense of their unjust murmurings and repinings and their neglect to follow out the revealed will of God. Joshua goes on to warn them in a most earnest manner against the idolatry around them. They were warned not to have any connection with idolaters, not to intermarry with them, nor in any way put themselves in danger of being affected and corrupted by their abominations. They were counseled to shun the very appearance of evil, not to dabble around the borders of sin, for this was the surest way to be engulfed in sin and ruin. He showed them that desolation would be the result of their departing from God, and as God was faithful to His promise He would also be faithful in executing His threatenings (Letter 3, 1879).{2BC 1000.4}

13. Se EGW for kp. 17,13.

Kapitel 24

Et kald til taknemmelighed, ydmygelse og udskillelse. - Da Josua nærmede sig afslutningen af hans liv, gjorde han en tilbageblik på fortiden af to grunde: for at få Guds Israel til at være taknemmelig over for den marktante manifestation for Guds nærvær i alle deres rejser, og få dem til at ydmyge deres sind under en fornemmelse af deres uretfærdige knurren og beklagelser og at de ikke fulgte Guds åbenbarede vilje. Josua fortsætter med at advare dem på en meget alvorlig mode imod afgudsdyrkelsen omkring dem. De blev advaret om at ikke have nogen forbindelse med afgudsdyrkerne, og ikke gifte sig ind med dem, eller på nogen måde sætte sig selv i fare for at blive påvirket og fordærvet af deres vederstyggeligheder. De blev rådet til at undgå det der har udseende af ondt, ikke jokke ud over syndens grænser, for det var den sikreste måde at blive opslugt i synd på og ruineret. Han viste dem at trøstesløshed ville være resultatet af at de forlod Gud, og da Gud var trofast mod Sine løfter, ville han også være nøje med at fuldbyrde Sine trusler (Brev 3, 1879).