A Choice Must be Made
March 9, 2022
Commentary
Joshua summoned a second great assembly at Shechem to confirm Israel’s covenant relationship with God. Shechem was a few miles northwest of Shiloh (v. 1). This was where God first promised Canaan to Abraham (Gen. 12:6-7), where Jacob built an altar and buried his family’s idols (Gen. 35:4), and where the Israelites went after they had completed the first phase of their conquest of Canaan. The Mosaic Covenant established at Mount Sinai was not an everlasting covenant and therefore had to be renewed in every generation. In this meeting Joshua recounts the thrilling story of Israel’s crossing the river Jordan, her triumphant entrance into Canaan, her victories over stubborn foes and her occupation of the land. The purpose of this review is to drive home the fact of Israel’s total dependence upon the Lord. He refers to the Lord 21 times in this speech and the word serve 15 times. God gave them their land and would bless them in their land if they loved Him and served Him. Dependence is what every believer is forced to acknowledge. What we are and have by God’s grace we owe to Him.
Joshua boldly challenged the people to choose between the gods of Ur which their ancestors worshiped, the gods of Egypt, the gods of the Amorites or the true God Jehovah. Then he assured them that whatever their choice, his mind was made up and his course was clear: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (v. 15). The people responded with an answer from their head. “We will serve the Lord” (v. 16). Their reasoning was simple. The Lord has saved their fathers from slavery in Egypt (v. 17a), He had led them through the wilderness (v. 17b), and He had defeated their enemies, giving them the land (v. 18). Of course, they would serve the Lord …
Application
I coveted many years ago with my family that we were going to serve the Lord regardless of what others do. I just need to keep this covenant current.
Joshua 24:1– 18 (NET)
1 Joshua assembled all the Israelite tribes at Shechem. He summoned Israel’s elders, rulers, judges, and leaders, and they appeared before God. 2 Joshua told all the people, “This is what the Lord God of Israel has said: ‘In the distant past your ancestors lived beyond the Euphrates River, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor. They worshiped other gods, 3 but I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and brought him into the entire land of Canaan. I made his descendants numerous; I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned Mount Seir, while Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. 5 I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt down when I intervened in their land. Then I brought you out. 6 When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you arrived at the sea. The Egyptians chased your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 7 Your fathers cried out for help to the Lord; he made the area between you and the Egyptians dark, and then he drowned them in the sea. You witnessed with your very own eyes what I did in Egypt. You lived in the wilderness for a long time. 8 Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought with you, but I handed them over to you; you conquered their land, and I destroyed them from before you. 9 Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, launched an attack against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to call down judgment on you. 10 I refused to respond to Balaam; he kept prophesying good things about you, and I rescued you from his power. 11 You crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The leaders of Jericho, as well as the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, fought with you, but I handed them over to you. 12 I sent terror ahead of you to drive out before you the two Amorite kings. I gave you the victory; it was not by your swords or bows. 13 I gave you a land in which you had not worked hard; you took up residence in cities you did not build, and you are eating the produce of vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.’
14 “Now obey the Lord and worship him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and worship the Lord. 15 If you have no desire to worship the Lord, then choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the Lord.”
16 The people responded, “Far be it from us to abandon the Lord so we can worship other gods! 17 For the Lord our God took us and our fathers out of slavery in the land of Egypt and performed these awesome miracles before our very eyes. He continually protected us as we traveled and when we passed through nations. 18 The Lord drove out from before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. So we too will worship the Lord, for he is our God!”