Choose to Love and Serve God - Joshua 24:1-3, 13-15, 21-24

Introduction/Seeing the Need

In today’s lesson, from the final chapter of the book of Joshua, Joshua presents to the nation of Israel what amounts to his farewell address. By this time, Joshua was an old man and a true “veteran” whose career included a host of experiences, serving first as Moses’ apprentice and then leading the Israelites in the conquest of the promised land. It was important, before Joshua’s death, that the next generation hear his testimony and learn to appreciate the wisdom that he had to offer God’s people.

Joshua had seen it all. The first time he is mentioned in the Bible is when Moses commanded him to choose some men to fight the Amalekites who had attacked Israel not long after the exodus from Egypt (). describes Joshua as Moses’ aide, a word that could be considered the equivalent of an assistant or an apprentice.

Joshua was with Moses when the two came down from Mount Sinai after Moses had received God’s laws written on tablets of stone by “the finger of God” (). They found the Israelites taking part in sinful, degrading actions that sparked Moses’ anger (32:15-20). Along with Caleb, Joshua was one of the two spies who voiced confidence that the Lord would lead the Israelites into the promised land. Tragically, their voices were drowned out by the defiant unbelief of the other 10 spies.

Given this background, it seems inevitable that Joshua would be selected as Moses’ successor to lead the nation into the promised land and complete the task Moses had begun. records Moses’ charge to Joshua to assume the leadership of the people. The final chapter of Deuteronomy tells us that “Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hand on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses” (34:9).

The book of Joshua then chronicles the conquest of Canaan under Joshua’s leadership and the allotment of territory to the various tribes. By the time of today’s text, Joshua had become “a very old man” (). Joshua died at age 110, doing what he could to equip his people to carry on and prosper after he was no longer with them. It was in this condition that he called the assembly.

Looking at the Past - , )

Joshua 24:1-3

Joshua 24:1–3 NRSV

Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac;

Joshua 24:13 NRSV

I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and towns that you had not built, and you live in them; you eat the fruit of vineyards and oliveyards that you did not plant.

Joshua 24:13

The city of Shechem first appears in the Bible in connection with Abraham. It is the first place mentioned upon his arrival in the land of Canaan, and he built an altar there. Ironically Shechem is later the location where the nation becomes divided into two kingdoms. In Joshua’s time, however, Shechem is a place where a unified nation is assembled.

The various leaders are present as well; the terms used indicate that the spiritual, judicial and military leaders are in attendance to present themselves before God. Thus this is not a political or legislative assembly; it is primarily spiritual in nature. Joshua may be the person calling the assembly and addressing it, but the one truly in charge is the Lord.

What preparations can we make before we present ourselves before God in worship? Which of those preparations, if any, should be the practice of all Christians? Why?

Before calling the Israelites to make this firm decision about serving god, Joshua set the stage by reviewing their history as a people. In , he summarized how God had directed their ancestors and the generations since. Among the events Joshua enumerated were God’s leading of Abraham from “the other side of the Euphrates” to Canaan, God’s rescue of the people from Egypt, God’s aid to the people in the wilderness en route to the Promised Land, and God’s enabling the people to occupy the land God had promised them.

That recitation brought Israel’s history right down to their present day. Joshua finished this history review saying, “(God) gave you land on which you hadn’t toiled and cities that you hadn’t built. You settled in them and are enjoying produce from vineyards and olive groves that you didn’t plant” (verse 13).

Joshua did not take the people through this review of their past simply so they would remember the events. Rather, he wanted them to take a single lesson from their historical record: that God had been unfailingly faithful to them.

What are some ways our church can reflect on its roots in times of growth and change? Why is it important to do so?

Joshua didn’t want the Israelites to fall back to a reliance on the gods of their ancestors, but instead trust God for direction. Joshua said, “Put aside the gods that your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and serve the Lord” (verse 14).

How will life be different as we become more grateful for the Lord’s material provisions?

Living in the Present - , , )

Joshua 24:14–15 NRSV

“Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River 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 21:21–24 NRSV

To them were given Shechem, the city of refuge for the slayer, with its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasture lands, Kibzaim with its pasture lands, and Beth-horon with its pasture lands—four towns. Out of the tribe of Dan: Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands—four towns.

Joshua does not want the Israelites to think that the blessing of the promised land is unconditionally guaranteed, with no obligation on their part. God had given them the land, but to continue residence there the people must follow the terms set down by the giver.

Moses had previously warned the people to “fear the Lord your God, serve him only” () and had warned the people not to forget the Lord’s goodness and not to pursue other gods. Now Joshua echoes this same appeal. The Lord is to be their only God, not only in what they profess but in how they behave.

How can we identify and eliminate the gods that distract us from serving the Lord fully? In your experience, how can you tell when someone has not fully given up his or her idols?

Joshua assumed that his people would worship some god or gods. So if they didn’t commit to the Lord, they would serve the old gods that Abraham left behind when he listened to the Lord and headed for Canaan or they would embrace the gods of their Amorite neighbors.

But in verse 15 there is no question that Joshua considered serving the Lord as the only path leading to a life of peace and well-being. Thus he declared that regardless of what others decided, he and his family were going to serve the Lord. Joshua’s proposal reflects a principle that remains true: we must serve someone or something.

Be still for a moment. What choice or decision is the Lord setting before you today?

Having heard Joshua’s call for decision, the Israelites quickly agreed to serve the Lord. Their collective response was, “God forbid that we ever leave the Lord to serve other gods! The Lord is our God…We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God”. They have chosen to follow Joshua’s example and serve the Lord; but if they turn away from him and worship other gods, they will bring upon themselves the punishment that Joshua has said must follow. The people agree to Joshua’s terms: We are witnesses.

Joshua urges the people before him to make a break with the gods that remain in their midst. But as important as that action is, genuine commitment to the Lord has to include the hearts of the people. They must throw away other gods internally as well as externally. They must serve God with all their hearts. Have you been doing any picking and choosing? Do you trust God with your spiritual needs but break his commands in your efforts to meet your physical or emotional needs? Will you choose to follow him with all your heart and trust him to provide everything you need?

Have you been doing any picking and choosing? Do you trust God with your spiritual needs but break his commands in your efforts to meet your physical or emotional needs? Will you choose to follow him with all your heart and trust him to provide everything you need?

Conclusion

It is noteworthy that the names of Joshua and Jesus come from the same Hebrew verb, meaning “to save.” As Joshua brought the Israelites into the promised land of Canaan, Jesus, the “”pioneer of (our) salvation” (Hebrew 2:10), leads us toward our promised land of Heaven. And as one ponders Joshua’s words in our text and the degree of commitment to the Lord that he called the Israelites to demonstrate, it is not difficult to recognize similarities to Jesus’ teaching about what is required to be his disciple (). One must ‘estimate the cost,” as Jesus put it, and that is what Joshua encouraged the Israelites to do.

For us as Christians to say that “We will serve the Lord” means we will honor Jesus as Lord and demonstrate that commitment by serving him faithfully every day. Like Joshua’s audience, we too must reject the “gods” that threaten to undermine that commitment. Those gods may not be statues or images of pagan deities; they can be material objects or degree of devotion to a career, to sports, to education, or something else that has claimed, for all intents and purposes, the status of a “god” in our lives.

In whom or what are we placing our trust? Where is our heart inclined? The words of Joshua still issue a resounding call to New Testament believers: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”

Prayer

O God, strengthen our commitment with your energy, that when life is pulling us to rethink other promises, our covenant with you will be a starting point and a grounding in that which is essential. Let our promise to you, Lord, give us the perspective we need to make good decisions, even when rethinking is necessary; in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.