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God had now given rest to the
Israelites a long time, and Joshua was very old, and felt that he must
soon die. He loved his people very much; and he wished to talk to
them, and bid them farewell. He called them all to Shechem, and
spoke to them there for the last time. The Israelites felt very sad
when they looked upon their dear old friend whom they had known so long,
and they stood very attentively to hear all he said. Joshua told
them of all God's kindness to them in past years, His love to Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob, and His mercy to the Israelites in Egypt. Then
Joshua told them to remember all the wonders God had done to their
enemies, the Egyptians, and the Amorites, and many more people whom God
had given them power to conquer. When
Joshua had finished, he asked, "Now, tell me, whom do you wish to
serve, and worship, and obey? Will you serve the idols of the
Amorites, and the Egyptians, or God, the true God, who has done all these
things for you?" Then all the people answered, "We will
serve the Lord." But Joshua said, "You are not able of
yourselves to serve Him rightly, for He is a very holy God: He hates
sin, and He punishes all those who rebel against Him." But the
people cried again, "We do wish to love and serve the
Lord." Then Joshua told them to throw away all their idols, and
to pray to God to help them to serve Him aright. Joshua wrote their
promise in the book of the law; and then he took a large stone, and put it
up under an oak tree, and called the people, and said, "Look at that
stone; it has heard your promise that you will serve the Lord. Here
it is, a remembrance of what you have done." Then
Joshua sent the people to their homes, and, very soon after, he went to
his home in Heaven. He had lived many years, 110; he had fought many
battles, and done many wonderful things by God's power; but now all was
finished, and he lay down to rest in the quiet grave. Joshua was
glad to go to a better country than Canaan; he did not fear death, because
his sins were forgiven, and his soul saved. He had lived in the love
of God, and now he was going to be with God for ever. The Israelites
were sorry to lose their kind teacher: and they tried to remember
all he had said to them, and did not forget their holy promise to serve
the Lord. It is a happy thing when people choose God for their
friend, and not the world.
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