Joshua 24:15, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors serve 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”.
Joshua was near to the end of his life. He gathered the Israelites together and reminded them what God has done for them.
God has been faithful and good to them. God had delivered them out of slavery in Egypt. On the way to the Promised Land through the wilderness, God was with them. God opened the Red Sea for them to pass through but the Red Sea closed on the Egyptian soldiers who were chasing after them. By day, God was in a pillar of cloud to guide them and by night, He was a pillar of fire to give them light (Ex. 13:21).
They were also not lacking in anything in these 40 years in the wilderness. Their clothing or sandals did not wear out (Deuteronomy 29:5). When they were hungry, God provided for them manna, a bread-like edible substance that tasted like wafer and honey.
Now the Israelites were living comfortably in the Promised Land. Each tribe had received their inheritance. They were enjoying their good life.
Joshua wanted to make sure that God’s people would not forget Him who has been so good and faithful to them. Joshua asked the people to make a conscious decision to be faithful to God — because they wanted to, out of their reverence and love for God. It should not be something that Joshua could force them into.
They had to make a choice for themselves: whether to choose to
continue to worship God, or choose to worship the idols of the nations around them. They had to decide if they would serve God.
“serve” means “being devoted to”. It also means “faithfulness”. Joshua was calling the Israelites to serve God with sincerity of heart and being faithful to Him, and not with an attitude that is half-hearted.
Evangelist and teacher, D.L. Moody, once heard a preacher said, “The world has yet to see what God can do through one person who is completely committed to Him”. And hearing this transformed Moody’s life. Moody set out to be that one person who was committed to God. And God used him greatly to share the Gospel to many others.
What about us today? We are living rather comfortably, we are not lacking in basic necessities. Have you made the decision to serve only the God of Heavens and Earth, and to be faithful to Him?
