Just A Thought
Topic: Joshua draws a line in the sand
The book of Joshua has some interesting reading and some rather dry reading. Once you make it through the division of the land to each tribe, Joshua’s farewell message draws you back in. The farewell message is a line in the sand moment. Joshua poses a relevant question that needs to be stated to us today.
Joshua 24:14-15, “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. 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.”
In the context of chapter 24, Joshua has just relayed a message from God, their covenant Lord, to the tribes of Israel gathered at Shechem. Joshua gave a history lesson of how their forefathers had served other gods until the one true God rescued them out of Egypt and brought them to the Promised Land.
In verse 14, Joshua begins drawing a conclusion that they should fear God, serving him faithfully and sincerely (14a).
Then, in verse 15, Joshua provides an “if-then” clause. If you Israelites determine that serving God is evil, then go ahead and make your choice of what kind of gods you’re going to choose: the false gods from the past beyond the River (Egypt), or the false gods of the Amorites in your current location.
In contrast to this, Joshua says he and his house are going to serve God, the covenant Lord who delivered them from Egypt and the wilderness. The covenant Lord who has given them the Promised Land.
Here is the thought I want to challenge you with: if you are not going to faithfully serve God, the one true God, then which pretend god of the world will you follow?
The Bible poses this question on every page. So, have you chosen to serve God faithfully?
See you Sunday,
Dr. Scott Kallem