Life is made up of choices. In just one day, you make hundreds of choices—big ones and small ones. If we never had to make choices, we would be robots, programmed to do a specific task. But that’s not how God designed us. God designed us with the ability to choose.
In Joshua 24, the nation of Israel must make a choice. This is not some small, insignificant choice which can be made flippantly, no—this is a big choice! The choice is whether Israel will serve God or not. We would think that the choice is obvious, especially after all that God had done for Israel. However, this is also a choice which every Christian today must make. The choice should be obvious, right? Sadly, some choose to serve another god.
Joshua, who is now an old man, gives a final, rousing speech to his people. This speech reminds them of their history, admonishes them to choose to serve Jehovah solely, and then makes a covenant with them. At the end of the chapter, Joshua dies. These are his final words, and every Christian needs to hear and heed them. You see, this chapter is not just for God’s people back then; it is also for God’s people today.
Let’s notice four important words that God’s people need right now that are found in this passage:
1. REMEMBER (v. 2-13)
The Children of Israel had just defeated over thirty different pagan peoples. They saw God personally fight for them and give them victory after victory. Yet despite all of this, Joshua felt the need to remind them of their previous history. He goes all the way back to Abraham—the very beginning of Israel—and goes up to the present moment under his leadership.
Why did Joshua have to give this history lesson? Didn’t Israel know their history? Well, don’t forget that this generation had not seen any of the events he described. They did not see the plagues, or the crossing of the Red Sea, or even the miracles in the wilderness. This generation were those who were twenty years and younger when the Kadesh-Barnea incident happened. Some were very young at the time and others were not even born. Yet they were getting the land which had long been promised to their families.
Read verse 13. In other words, they were getting something which their ancestors only dreamed of getting; don’t take it for granted! Remember all that God has done to get you to this point.
Sometimes it’s good for us to take a moment and remember our history. Think about your family history. Did you grow up in a Christian home? If so, you should be very thankful. Perhaps your ancestors saw God work in amazing ways. Did you grow up in an unsaved home and later come to Christ? If so, don’t take for granted what God has done for either you personally or for your family.
We’re preparing to make a massive choice, but before we come to it, let’s stop and think upon what God has done for us. He has done much to get us to this point.
2. RECOMMENDATION (v. 14)
In the first 13 verses, Joshua is speaking the words of God to the people. Now in the next two verses, he personally speaks to Israel. Let’s notice three admonitions which Joshua gives to his people.
a. Fear the Lord
The first admonition is to fear the Lord. This should also be the first priority for any Christian today.
Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…”
This kind of fear is not terror or fright, but rather, a reverential awe for God. A frightful fear would be appropriate as well since God is so powerful and will judge us one day for everything we do.
Example: A child should fear his father if he has disobeyed. He fears him for two reasons: (1) because he respects his father’s authority and (2) because of the punishment he will receive. If the child lacks respect for his father, he will disregard the father’s authority, and perhaps will not fear any punishment.
Fearing God is the first step in preparing to make this big choice. It is a foundation which wisdom can be built upon.
b. Serve the Lord
Joshua admonishes the people to serve the Lord “in sincerity and in truth.” That last part is vitally important. Anyone can serve the Lord out of a sense of duty, but surely this displeases Him. God desires that we serve Him in sincerity and truth. For God, the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.
When we serve God out of duty, it quickly becomes a chore. Does anyone ever enjoy doing chores? Probably not, but they have to be done. Don’t treat God that way.
Philippians 2:17, “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all”
Are you serving the Lord out of duty, or in sincerity? “Why does it matter? I’m serving the Lord, aren’t I?” It matters because it will have an impact upon the choice which you will make. In fact, it’s so important that Joshua mentions it twice in the same verse (look at verse 14 again)!
c. Put Away Idols
Next Joshua says, “and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood…” (v. 14c). This goes hand in hand with the last point; you can’t serve God in sincerity if you’re worshipping idols too! So put those idols away…for good!
We tend to downplay idolatry. “We don’t worship statues or trees.” That’s how we often think of idolatry. But an idol is simply anything which is more important to you than God. The following list includes things which could become idols for us today: your car, house, spouse, family, girlfriend, boyfriend, football, basketball, hockey, swimming, baseball, soccer, entertainment, smart phones, celebrities, music bands, books, eating, hobbies, clothes, shopping, money, pets, and don’t forget the biggest idol of all—yourself!
The above things are not wrong or sinful, but they can become sinful if we make them more important than God. Israel struggled with this over and over again, and let’s be honest, so do we. We love our sports, our hobbies, and our personal attachments. Just don’t allow those things to come between your relationship with God.
3. RESOLVE (v. 15)
After these three admonitions, Joshua gives the people a choice. We all know this verse, but it’s powerful. Read verse 15.
I can’t imagine that any Christian would consider it “evil” to serve the Lord. This word “evil” does not necessarily mean bad; it could refer to simple inconvenience. In that case, many Christians could see it as an inconvenience to serve the Lord. How sad that God’s people would not be willing to inconvenience themselves for their Creator!
Joshua knows that the Israelites are a fickle people, so he gives them this choice. Choose whom you will serve. You can serve God, or you can serve the gods which your fathers served back on the other side of the Euphrates River (called the flood here). The answer should seem obvious. Who brought Israel out of bondage and led them all through the wilderness?
Joshua is not the only one to say this in the Bible. Moses and Elijah both called on their own people to choose whom to serve.
Exodus 32:26, “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me…”
I Kings 18:21, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”
Jesus said something similar in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Joshua made his choice and let it be known: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Illustration: I see this on houses all the time, but is it true? Will your family be faithful to follow God and live for Him?
4. RESPOND (v. 16-18)
The people now make their choice known, and they choose to serve the Lord. This was the right choice.
Why choose God? Let’s look at a few reasons. First, God is sovereign. This means that God is in control of all things, including your life. If you want to serve another god, that god cannot control your life; if anything, it will mess up your life! But God is always in control, and can even use unlikely circumstances to your benefit.
Second, look at all the things God has done for you in the past. I don’t know how far along you are in your relationship with Him; perhaps you’re just a newly saved believer. Whatever the case, God has at least saved you, and that is far better than any idol can do for you. Perhaps He has answered some major prayers you had. For Israel, God had delivered them from Egypt and led them through the wilderness. It’s always good to look back and remember what God has done.
Third, consider the fact that God holds your future. This is plainly stated in one of my favorite verses.
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
With these in mind, how could anyone not choose God? But notice Joshua’s response to Israel’s choice. Read verses 19-20.
What a thing to say! Of course, we know that God would certainly forgive Israel if they sinned, so what does this statement mean? Joshua was trying to get across the fact that God does not take this choice lightly. It’s easy for anyone to say “I’ll serve the Lord,” and then go home and live for himself. This is not a light decision because God is not a light God. He is a holy God. He is a jealous God. And He will respond to Israel’s rebellion with judgment.
The people back up their decision (read verse 21). But we know that the book of Judges follows the book of Joshua. Israel did not stick to this choice. They rebelled over and over, which led to captivity, which led to a judge delivering them, and the cycle repeated. Idolatry would be a constant problem in Israel’s history.
Sadly, many Christians today are the same way. They say that they serve God, but they also worship the god of sports, entertainment, self-image, or money. They are in captivity to a dumb idol.
Conclusion
Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti relates his struggle with a big choice. “When I was a boy, my father, a baker, introduced me to the wonders of song. He urged me to work very hard to develop my voice. Arrigo Pola, a professional tenor in my hometown of Modena, Italy, took me as a pupil. I also enrolled in a teachers college. On graduating, I asked my father, 'Shall I be a teacher or a singer?’ 'Luciano,' my father replied, 'if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair.' I chose one. It took seven years of study and frustration before I made my first professional appearance. It took another seven to reach the Metropolitan Opera. And now I think whether it's laying bricks, writing a book—whatever we choose—we should give ourselves to it. Commitment, that's the key. Choose one chair.”
I hope you’re not sitting on the fence (double-minded).
Consider your options. But don’t sit around thinking too long; this choice needs to be made. Will you serve the Lord, or the gods of your fathers? Choose carefully, because your choice will greatly affect your future.
