Big Idea - Joshua is coming to the end of his life, and on two occasions, he gathers the people to challenge them to keep trusting God and following Him. He wants to encourage them, but also to warn them what will happen if they turn away from following God. Sis desire is to see the people continue in the right direction after he has gone. How do you make sure people keep following God when you aren't around to lead them on the right path? Ultimately, we are all in the business of preparing people to continue on without us - Parents sending kids off to college, turning our ministry over to the next leader or next generation, transitioning out of your position and leaving it in the hands of a new person/leader, even Jesus had to hand everything over to 12 men who had just deserted Him at the cross! We all have to pass the baton at some point. Are we preparing people for our departure? What can we do or say to prepare the next generation to carry the baton to the finish? What does it look like to finish well by preparing others to run to the end and finish well?
Joshua leaves the leaders with three important truths to live by. To stress their vital importance for all of life, he tells them three times. But we will take them one by one. First, focus your attention on what God has done for you. Second, stay on the right path by staying close to God. Third, trust in God alone, for He alone is trustworthy. Do this, and things will go well; if you fail to do this, things will go terribly wrong.
