July 31, 2025
Joshua is old and full of years. The time to end his earthly sojourn is coming soon. By any measure he has lived a full and active life.
As a young man, Joshua served as Moses’ chief assistant, his aid-de-camp, during their decades long wandering in the wilderness. On Moses’ death, Joshua became the leader of the fledgling Israelite nation. Under his leadership, the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River and began taking control of the Promised Land. It was another decades long task, but by the end of the Book of Joshua it is almost complete. And now, it is time for Joshua to prepare to sleep with his fathers.
But first, he calls the Israelites together for one last meeting.
What would you expect at a time like this? What would you expect if it were a pastor leaving a church, a CEO or Board president leaving a company? A banquet? Some speeches? Gifts to the outgoing leader in recognition of their years of faithful service? Maybe a few closing remarks from the honoree?
Apparently, there was no banquet, gifts, or even a gold watch. Joshua made some remarks, but they were not about his accomplishments nor were they words of thanks to the leadership who had supported him. Instead, Joshua briefly recounts how the people had come to be gathered there. It was by God’s doing, he says. It was God who led Abraham into the land of Canaan. It was God who sent the Israelites to Egypt during the time of famine. It was God who rescued them after they were enslaved. It was God who guided them and protected them during their decades long wilderness wandering. And it was God who protected them and won the land for them after they crossed the Jordan.
That should have been enough, but Joshua doesn’t stop there. Instead, he challenges the people to place their trust in God. He throws down the gauntlet before them, daring them to worship any other God, but also warning them that worshiping any other God would only lead to disaster.
Joshua has done a marvelous thing. On an occasion where self-aggrandizement would have been the order of the day, Joshua directs the peoples’ attention back towards God. Instead of tooting his own horn, or buttering up his audience, Joshua shoots straight and true. ‘You didn’t do all these marvelous things. God did them. You didn’t win the land for yourself, God did. And don’t blithely commit to worshiping God unless your heart’s really in it. God isn’t everything God seems.’
It’s a powerful message and a good model for good leave taking. Joshua doesn’t empty his desk and slip out under cover of darkness. He doesn’t go fishing for compliments. Instead, Joshua does what he’s always done. He remembers the most important thing. He points the people towards God. He makes his departure about God, not him.
Too often, especially in churches, we celebrate the individual before all else. Sharing a meaningful goodbye matters. We should freely share our emotions. Gifts and tokens of remembrance can be very meaningful and much appreciated. Good leaving is important.
But those who are leaving and those who are staying should both remember that it is not the leaders we are celebrating but what God has done through them. It is God we should be celebrating and recommitting ourselves to. It is God who has given us all the good things we have. Sometimes in spite of our leaders. Sometimes with their concerted effort.
Good leave-taking is important. When it’s our turn, may we do it well.
God’s peace to us all,
Pastor Ken
