July 5, 2021
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Reading along with us in Joshua? Here’s today’s reading:
Joshua 24 (NIV)
The Covenant Renewed at Shechem
1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.........Continue Reading
Joshua 24
14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
A good picture of the decision we must all make in our lives. Will we turn away and worship ourselves, or will we accept Jesus Christ and grab on to Him as our only savior?
Nothing like giving a history lesson to begin your final charge to the people of Israel. In it, Joshua reminds the people of all God did for them and through them. And there is only one right conclusion in all this, to now follow and serve Him. Now that also includes casting aside idols that express belief and dependence on false gods. It’s like Joshua knows the people have them and they will be tempted to follow them (as they later do). But independent of what they will do, Joshua makes clear what he and his house will do…they will serve the Lord. We all need this same resolve and to persevere in it regardless of what others think.
Now I am not sure if Joshua uses reverse psychology next or is being prophetic. It’s like a parent saying “you can’t clean your room”…….and the child says rebelliously, oh yes I can! Well regardless, the people affirm their fidelity to God and Joshua makes them sign the dotted line. It’s a heavy thought that they are witnesses against themselves of what they have committed to. And Joshua establishes a marker to remember the commitment.
And yet it seems that after this high point of the people coming together in agreement to follow God, Joshua and the High Priest die, the two movers and shakers of God’s work amongst them, and there’s a sense that the wheels are going to fall off…which is exactly what happens in the book of Judges…..
You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’
14“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Psalms 16:11 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/psa.16.11.niv
Praise God!
In light of all that the Lord has done for Israel, Joshua gives a command and a choice:
“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Does this offer yet more evidence that God gave man free will?
This made me think what could possibly be the equivalent of these foreign gods in my own life. I pray that God will search my heart and reveal it to me..