Choose For Yourselves This Day
Be Strong and Courageous:
Choose for Yourselves this Day
As our study of Joshua comes to a close, it is fitting that we end with the closing moments of Joshua’s life. The last chapter of this encouraging book records his farewell address and death. As you remember, the book began with a death – the death of Moses. Joshua, his apprentice, was selected to follow him as leader of Israel. This was a tremendous task. This is why God encouraged him to be “strong and courageous.” Joshua was able to rise to this occasion because God had promised he would never leave him or forsake him and, indeed, he did not throughout Joshua’s whole life.
Here at the end, Joshua challenges and charges the people to choose and obey God.
Joshua 24:14-15 14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the 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 forefathers served 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.”
These words, however, are just the “call to action” portion of the speech. He begins by reminding them of all the Lord had done for them. Their salvation history was to be the motivation behind their obedience. In the Bible, the indicative always comes before the imperative. In other words, God acts in our behalf before he expects anything of us. The ultimate example is the Cross. “We love because he first loved us.” For Israel, their salvation history included the promises given to Abraham, the deliverance from Egypt, provision in the wilderness, and the conquest of the Promised Land.
Joshua 24:3, 5, 8, 11, 13 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants…. I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out…. I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands…. Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands… So 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.
Now, as Joshua passes, it is imperative that they do not forget the Lord. Joshua calls them to decision. Choose for yourselves this day, whom you will serve. He doesn’t mince words! He calls for a decision (choose) – no more fence straddling. He calls for a personal decision (for yourselves) – no one could make it for them. He calls for an immediate decision (today) – this was the only time they had or were promised. He calls for a clear decision (whom you will serve: God or idols) – the Lord will not tolerate divided loyalty. He calls for a fateful decision. He continues in the text to warn them that their continued well-being in the land was dependent upon their choice made that day. What was Israel’s decision? Joshua 24:21 We will serve the LORD.” May we have the same strength and courage!
Be Strong and Courageous! Joey