December – 9 – Love and Serve God

Sunday School Lesson

December 9

Love and Serve God

 

Devotional Reading: Psalm 81

Background Scripture: Exodus 20:1–11; Joshua 24

 

Joshua 24:1–3a, 13–15, 21–24

1. And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

 

2. And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

 

3a. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed

 

13. And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.

 

14. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

 

15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

21. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord.

 

22. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

 

23. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel.

 

24. And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

Key Verse

If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.—Joshua 24:15

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

 

1. Summarize the portion of today’s text regarding Joshua’s farewell challenge to the Israelites and their response.

 

2. Explain what rejecting false gods means in the twenty-first century.

 

3. Identify a cultural “god” and make a plan to resist its influence.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

Amalekites	Am-uh-leh-kites or Uh-mal-ih-kites.
Amorites	Am-uh-rites.
Baal	Bay-ul.
Balaam	Bay-lum.
Balak	Bay-lack.
Chaldees	Kal-deez.
Euphrates	You-fray-teez.
Moab	Mo-ab.
Nachor	Nay-kor.
Shechem	Shee-kem or Shek-em.
Sinai	Sigh-nye or Sigh-nay-eye.
syncretic	sin-kre-tik.
Terah	Tair-uh.
Ur	Er.

Introduction

1. A Veteran Speaks

Many nations observe a day each year to honor their military veterans. Such days feature expressions of appreciation to the men and women who have placed themselves in harm’s way in defense of the nation. Societies deem it important that the next generation learn to acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices that veterans have made on their behalf.

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.

1. Lesson Context

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 (Exodus 17:8–13). Exodus 24:13 describes Joshua as Moses’ minister, 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” (Exodus 31:18). 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 (Numbers 14:6–9). 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. Deuteronomy 31:1–8 records Moses’ charge to Joshua to assume the leadership of the people. The final chapter of Deuteronomy tells us that “Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord 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 “waxed old” and was “stricken in age” (Joshua 23:1). It was in this condition that he called an assembly.

1. Looking at the Past

(Joshua 24:1–3a, 13)

1. Public Assembly of Tribes (v. 1)
2. And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

 

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 (Genesis 12:6, 7). Ironically (and sadly) Shechem is later the location where the nation becomes divided into two kingdoms (1 Kings 12:1–20). In Joshua’s time, however, Shechem is a place where a unified nation is gathered.

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 gathering and addressing it, but the one truly in charge is the Lord.

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

1. God’s Blessings to Abraham (vv. 2, 3a)

2a. And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel.

 

While the leaders are given special emphasis in the previous verse (and in Joshua 23:2), here it is noted that Joshua addresses all the people. Moses had spoken to “all Israel” east of the Jordan River (Deuteronomy 1:1); now Joshua does so west of the Jordan, with the conquest of the promised land having been largely accomplished. As Joshua prefaces his words with thus saith the Lord God of Israel, the focus will be on the Lord’s words and deeds, not those of any person.

2b. Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

 

Joshua begins by recounting the history of the nation up to this point. It has now been several hundred years since the old time of Abraham. The Hebrew word translated flood often indicates a river (examples: Genesis 2:13, 14), and most likely refers here to the Euphrates River. The Euphrates formed a natural boundary between Ur of the Chaldees, Abraham’s original home, and the land of Canaan to which God guided him. Israel’s problematic heritage is to have had ancestors who served other gods. How Abraham came to embrace faith in one God, the true God, is not clear from Scripture. Yet the man who became the father of the Israelite nation severed ties with his upbringing by choosing to exercise faith in God and follow His leading (compare Joshua 24:23, below).

 

What Do You Think? What are some ways our church can reflect on its roots in times of growth and change?   Digging Deeper Why is it important to do so, considering Genesis 1:1–31; Psalm 78, 106; Acts 7:2–53; and 1 Corinthians 15:1–8?

3a. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed.

 

Joshua now alludes to the Lord’s call of Abraham, which is recorded in Genesis 12:1–3. God’s covenant with Abraham took him from his life on the other side of the flood (east of the Euphrates River) and brought him into the land of Canaan. The two most important elements of God’s covenant are highlighted here: the land God promised and Abraham’s seed, which God promised to multiply.

In Joshua 24:3b–12, not included in today’s text, Joshua continues his review of the history of God’s people. His primary focus is God’s deliverance of the people by means of the exodus and His protection of them from those such as Balak, king of Moab, who hired Balaam to curse the people. This allowed the nation to enter the land of Canaan, where God provided victory in battle over the peoples residing in the promised land so that His people could dwell there.

1. God’s Blessings to Israel (v. 13)
2. And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.

 

A frequently repeated theme whenever the land is discussed is the fact that it has been given by God to the people (Exodus 6:4, 8; 12:25; 13:5; 20:12; 32:13; Leviticus 23:10; 25:2; Numbers 13:2; 15:2; Deuteronomy 1:8, 25; 8:10; 11:31). A related point is the fact that the people have done nothing to produce the wealth or abundance found within this land. Others have done the hard work to build the cities and plant the crops; the Israelites have been granted the privilege of enjoying these blessings. Moses had spoken similar words to the Israelites in his message recorded in Deuteronomy 6:10, 11.

 

What Do You Think? How will life be different as we become more grateful for the Lord’s material provisions?   Digging Deeper What Scriptures help you most to recall your dependence on God and His provisions?

1. Living in the Present

(Joshua 24:14, 15, 21–24)

1. Joshua’s Challenge (vv. 14, 15)
2. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

 

The Israelites should not think that the blessings of the promised land are unconditionally guaranteed, with no obligation on their part. God has given them the land, but to continue residence there the people must follow the terms set down by the giver.

Moses had also urged the people to “fear the Lord thy God, and serve him” (Deuteronomy 6:13) and had warned the people not to forget the Lord’s goodness and not to pursue other gods (6:10–15). 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.

To achieve such a challenge requires that the people put away whatever gods they may yet have among them. No matter whether these gods are from their ancestors in the more distant past (on the other side of the flood; see commentary on Joshua 24:2b, above) or from their more recent experience in Egypt, allegiance to the one true God is top priority.

It may be difficult to grasp how some Israelites can still be holding on to false gods after all that the Lord had done for them. The previous generation of Israelites, however, had been guilty of idolatry as well, building a golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai. This happened not long after being delivered from their bondage in Egypt and protected at the Red Sea (Exodus 32:1–6). As someone has observed, it was one thing to get Israel out of Egypt but quite another to get Egypt out of Israel.

 

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

15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

The Hebrew word rendered evil can be used of something that is not necessarily evil in a moral sense (as in good versus evil). Sometimes it carries a sense of “unpleasant” or “disagreeable.” That is probably the case here. Joshua’s challenge is thus along these lines: if you Israelites find it unpleasant to serve the Lord, then consider whom you will end up serving instead.

Joshua’s proposal reflects a principle that remains true: we must serve someone or something. The Israelites before Joshua must choose whether they will serve the false gods of their ancestors or the gods of the peoples in the land of Canaan where they now reside. The Amorites are one of several peoples who have lived in Canaan (Deuteronomy 7:1; Joshua 24:11). But in some places the word is used to designate the peoples of the land in general (examples: Genesis 15:16; Amos 2:9, 10).

The history Joshua has recounted should be reason enough for choosing to serve the Lord. One must keep in mind that this history is not something that Joshua is relating as a body of facts that have no personal meaning to him. This history includes much that Joshua himself has experienced. He witnessed the events surrounding the exodus from Egypt and the rescue at the Red Sea. He saw firsthand the tragic results of idolatry when he descended from Mount Sinai with Moses (Exodus 32:17–20). Joshua himself knows for certain that the Lord is the one true God.

And yet he cannot choose for those who are assembled before him. Each person must choose for himself or herself whom to serve. But Joshua, as the nation’s leader, as the one who has directed their conquest of the promised land, will make absolutely clear where he stands: as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

We should note that Joshua’s challenge offers the people essentially only two choices: either the Lord or other gods. Moses had spoken in similar terms to the Israelites, setting before them a choice between “life and death, blessing and cursing” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Jesus also described two ways, a broad way and a narrow way, and of building wisely or foolishly (Matthew 7:13, 14, 24–27).

In Joshua 24:16–20, not in our lesson text, the people respond with a passionate desire to follow Joshua’s lead and to serve the Lord above any other gods. Joshua then warns them not to take their promise lightly. Their commitment to the Lord must involve more than just voicing good intentions or pious-sounding words; it must be supported by actions.

Idols of the heart

Coming back from a budding career on the mission field for medical reasons uncovered idols in my heart.

I had gotten used to the accolades. “Wow, you lived in a mud hut in Africa?” “You saw giraffes and zebras and elephants on the way to work?” “You could hear bombs across the border from the refugee camp?” We could mesmerize our friends back home with our exploits: tales of exotic cultures and music and food, hilarious language blunders, and austere living conditions.

One of my most cherished idols was the image of myself being a spiritual hero on the front lines of the cosmic battleground. “We could never do that,” whispered many voices back home. My life held eternal significance, a cut above the rest.

Our infant daughter’s traumatic brain injuries from birth and extensive ongoing medical care brought us home from the field and uncovered my idols. No one applauds when we administer her medicine or give her a bath. No one drops their jaw when I tell them about my current ministry role.

Whom will I serve? Will I try to seek out and bow down to my old idol of pride? Or will I choose this day to serve God, who brought me through dangers and deserts? Will I content myself in Him alone? Today will I serve myself or will I serve Him, wherever He may lead me?

That’s the choice I must make. What about you?

—D. G.

What Do You Think? Be still for a moment. What choice or decision is the Lord setting before you today?   Digging Deeper How do Matthew 7:13, 14, 24–27; Romans 6:16–19; and 1 John 1:5–10 convict you of a choice you must make?

1. Israel’s Choice (v. 21)
2. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord.

Again the people declare their loyalty to the Lord. The scene is reminiscent of what transpired at Mount Sinai when the Lord established His covenant with the Israelites there and the people said, “All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient” (Exodus 24:7).

1. Choice Reaffirmed (vv. 22–24)
2. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

 

In a solemn proceeding such as this, where the people have “presented themselves before God” (Joshua 24:1) and pledged their loyalty to Him alone, there is a need for witnesses. In this case Joshua calls upon the people themselves to serve as witnesses against themselves. 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 (24:20). The people agree to Joshua’s terms: We are witnesses.

 

23. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel.

 

Joshua urges the people before him to make a break with the gods that remain in their midst. In so doing, he repeats the command he issued earlier (Joshua 24:14). But as important as that action is, genuine commitment to the Lord (the kind that must accompany the pledge that the people have just made) has to include the hearts of the people. They must put away other gods internally as well as externally. The word incline is often used in Scripture of one’s ear being tuned to hear sound instruction (Proverbs 4:20) or refusing to hear it (Jeremiah 25:4).

Picking And Choosing

“We go to the foreign doctors to cure our malaria,” the ladies told us. “We go to the witch doctors if we have hepatitis or other problems.”

Having close access to modern health care was new to these North African refugees. They had walked for days as they fled the war in their homeland. In the refugee camp, multiple aid organizations were operating medical clinics for the refugees. They could let the foreigners diagnose them and give them medicine for any of their health issues, or they could pay their traditional healers who practiced witchcraft. Several witch doctors had also fled their homeland and continued to offer their services to their fellow refugees.

With options available, the ladies quickly tabulated the perceived success rate of each faction in treating various ailments. Before long they had decided under what circumstances they would go to the witch doctors or to the foreign doctors.

The Israelites under Joshua may have been tempted to employ similar syncretic tactics. “The God of Abraham is good at wars, but Baal is good at crops,” they might decide. They could pick and choose which “god” to follow when. But Joshua would have none of it. In reminding them of God’s incomparable greatness, Joshua forced them to choose. Would they serve God with all their hearts—or not?

Have you been doing any picking and choosing recently? 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?

—D. G.

24. And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

 

This is the third time the people have expressed a desire to serve the Lord (see Joshua 24:18, 21). Anyone who knows the history of Israel that follows in the book of Judges may well think, “If only the people had followed through on their words and promises.” As promising as the conclusion to the book of Joshua is, the conclusion to the book of Judges is disheartening. Its final verse is one of the saddest in the Bible: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

It is easy in the midst of a throng of like-minded believers (such as the gathering in Joshua 24) to voice allegiance to the Lord; it is quite another to translate that pledge into everyday actions and choices that are consistent with that allegiance. That remains true today.

Conclusion

1. Joshua and Jesus

It is noteworthy that the names 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 “captain of [our] salvation” (Hebrews 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 (Luke 14:25–33). One must “count 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 (money and possessions) or a 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 you this day whom ye will serve.”

1. Prayer

Father, in a world abounding with “gods” that vie for our allegiance, help us never to treat lightly the need to choose daily whom we will serve. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

1. Thought to Remember

“Choose this day” applies to every day.

 

 

Kid’s Corner

Leading by Example

December 9, 2018

Joshua 24:1-3, 13-15, 21-24

 

Joshua 24:1-3, 13-15, 21-24

(Joshua 24:1) Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel and for their heads and their judges and their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

Rather than gather the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel at Shiloh where the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle were located (about 10 miles away), Joshua called them to Shechem where the LORD first met Abraham after He told him to leave Haran. At Shechem, the LORD told Abraham that He was giving the land of the Canaanites to his offspring, and there Abraham built an altar to the LORD (see Genesis 12:6-7). After Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, they met near Shechem where for the first time in the land Joshua renewed the covenant (the agreement between the LORD and Abraham’s descendants) that the LORD had made with them through Moses and where Joshua taught them the Law of God once again (Genesis 8:30-35). Now, as he neared death, Joshua renewed the covenant once again and taught the leaders of the Israelites how to govern God’s people and lead them to live according to the Law of Moses.

(Joshua 24:2) Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods.

Joshua’s words to the people of God were the words of the LORD. He spoke as a judge and prophet: “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel.” Joshua began the renewal of God’s covenant with them by reminding the Israelites that they served the LORD (Jehovah or Yahweh), and it was the LORD (not a worthless idol) Who had made the covenant (agreement) with them. The LORD was their God, and the LORD had led Abraham from Ur, where his father had worshiped other gods, and where Abraham may have worshiped other gods in addition to the LORD. Joshua reminded them of the basic facts of the LORD’s work in the lives of their ancestors and in their own lives. The LORD had led Abraham, (and in verses we will not study this week) the LORD had led Moses, and through Moses the LORD had freed them from slavery in Egypt. The LORD had defeated their enemies in the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership, and the LORD and Joshua did not want the Israelites to worship any gods but the LORD. Joshua was not just teaching them their history, Joshua was proclaiming the Word of the LORD, the truth. The LORD did not save Abraham because he worshiped only the LORD, but despite the fact that he did not worship the LORD exclusively. By grace, the LORD made a new beginning with Abraham and his offspring. However, their worship of the LORD exclusively lasted only until the death of Joshua and the leaders who had followed him into the Promised Land (as the Book of Judges so sadly illustrates).

(Joshua 24:3) ‘Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him through all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac.

In verses 3-12, through Joshua the LORD reminded the people how He had provided for the needs of Abraham, Isaac, Esau, Jacob, their fathers and themselves. The LORD had given Esau and his descendants the land in the hill country of Seir to possess, but before giving the 12 tribes of Israel the land of Canaan, the LORD had led Jacob and his sons into Egypt until He freed them from slavery through Moses. The LORD showed them through many miracles that there were no gods greater than the LORD, their God.

(Joshua 24:13) ‘I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you have lived in them; you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’

The LORD did not give the Promised Land to the Israelites earlier in their history because, as the LORD told Abraham, “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete (or full)” (Genesis 15:16). Because of their idolatry and wickedness, the Amorites eventually forfeited their right to live in the land; so, the LORD gave it to others, even as the Israelites in the northern kingdom of Israel eventually forfeited their right to live there because of their idolatry and wickedness so that the LORD had them carried off into exile and the kingdom destroyed in 722 B.C. The LORD drove out the Canaanites slowly so the wild beasts would not take over the towns and make them uninhabitable as He promised Moses He would (see Deuteronomy 7:20-23). The Israelites were able to eat from productive land and live in homes almost immediately because of the way the LORD led them into the land and conquered their enemies through Joshua’s leadership.

(Joshua 24:14) “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

Unhappily, some of the Israelites were still clinging to some of their household gods to guarantee them security and success in the Promised Land. After reciting many of the blessings and miracles that the LORD had bestowed upon the Israelites, Joshua called them to uphold their part of the covenant that God had made with them through the Law of Moses: the LORD expected them to love and obey Him. Joshua gave the people good and sufficient reasons to obey the LORD when he described some of the acts of God in their history. They were to fear the LORD, and when they had seen firsthand some of the consequences of the idolatry and wickedness of the Canaanites and God’s judgment, they had every reason to obey the LORD out of fear (and eventually, they did throw away their idols for a time). However, they should have also gone to the LORD with thanksgiving and gratitude for all He had done for them throughout their history and especially for leading them into the Promised Land as He had promised. Therefore, many of them moved beyond fear of the LORD and came to reverence and respect the LORD because of His loving holiness toward them: these came to love and serve the LORD in sincere faithfulness. The gods beyond the river were the gods of those who lived in Ur of the Chaldeans, the gods of Terah, Abraham’s father. The Israelites learned to serve the gods of Egypt during their years of slavery. After they had been reminded of all the LORD had miraculously done for them, they knew (or should have known) that these false gods of Egypt were powerless and therefore worthless. The LORD had defeated all the gods and leaders of Egypt through various plagues and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army.

(Joshua 24:15) “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Perhaps you have noticed that increasing numbers of people have decided that it is evil (a strong statement, truly evil) to serve the LORD, the God of the Bible, and they have turned to or have invented lesser gods that make them increasingly unreasonable in their thoughts and actions (see Romans 1:16-32). Some people felt the same way in the time of Joshua; therefore, Joshua put a choice before the people and their leaders, even as people have the same choice today. People can choose to love and serve the LORD of history, the Creator of heaven and earth as revealed in the Bible; or, they can choose to serve some of the false gods that have been handed down and served throughout history. Everyone will serve someone or something, even if it is a thing called money. It is the same today as in the days of Joshua and Jesus. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus declared: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Joshua taught by words and example: he and his house would serve the LORD.

(Joshua 24:21) The people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.”

Because the LORD is holy, the people could not serve the LORD while at the same time keeping their idols (keeping them in reserve, so to speak, in case the LORD refused to give them what they desired). After telling the people what the LORD had done for them and that the LORD in His covenant with them required their unselfish devotion and sincere service, the people and their leaders made a reasonable and responsible choice to serve the LORD exclusively, obey the LORD and follow Joshua’s example.

(Joshua 24:22) Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”

Joshua had told the people that the LORD is holy, and they would need to serve the LORD in holiness. The people pledged to do exactly that; therefore, Joshua reminded them that if they did not do as they had vowed then their words would serve as a witness against them. They needed to remember that serving the LORD in holiness would be difficult in a world where everyone around them served false gods (and the world, the flesh, and the devil). They would need the constant help of their Holy God, which they could only receive if they continued to worship and serve the LORD in holiness and truth, without any admixture of false gods in their lives.

(Joshua 24:23) “Now therefore, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”

The people of God needed to take decisive action in accordance with their promise and put away all the foreign gods that they had collected in their travels: the gods from Ur, the gods from Egypt, and the gods of their foreign neighbors. The Law of God given to Moses demanded that they have no gods other than the true God of the Bible (the Bible as it was being revealed and written). In renewing the covenant with them, no doubt Joshua reminded them of these words in God’s law:  “Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:3-6). The people were to incline or turn their heart to the LORD in love, to focus on the LORD and to doing His will at all times.

(Joshua 24:24) The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey His voice.”

Even as Joshua repeatedly told them what the LORD required of them, so the people repeatedly vowed that they would serve and obey only the LORD. The people did so as long as Joshua and the leaders who brought them into the Promised Land lived.

 

Leading by Example

December 9, 2018

Joshua 24:1-3, 13-15, 21-24

 

 “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

Some think it is evil to serve the LORD. Some make no effort to obey the LORD as God has revealed His nature and character in the Bible. Others express open hostility toward those who try to obey and serve the LORD. Some quietly modify what the Bible teaches about God to suit the ways they want to believe and behave; then, they try to convince others to think and act as they do. Joshua faced similar problems. Some people in the Promised Land believed in the LORD, but they also trusted in the idols that their ancestors and they had collected during their travels. When they acted as though the LORD would accept their idolatry without consequences, they ignored the Law of Moses and the LORD’s covenant with them. Joshua spoke for the LORD when he said that their modified religious practices indicated they thought it was evil to serve the LORD, for the LORD required His people to love, serve, and worship the LORD exclusively. Instead, many of those who had entered the Promised Land trusted in their idols to assure them of safety, security, and success. Joshua told the people to put away their idols and incline their hearts to the LORD, to fear the LORD and serve the LORD in sincerity and faithfulness. By word and deed, Joshua and his house served as examples; then, the people followed and obeyed the LORD.

 

Thinking Further

Leading by Example

December 9, 2018

Joshua 24:1-3, 13-15, 21-24

Name _________________________

 

1. How did the leaders and people know that Joshua’s words would be important to them?

 

2. What seemed the biggest problem the Israelites faced?

 

3. What are some of the first truths Joshua told the Israelites?

 

4. What are some of the commands Joshua gave the people?

 

5. How did the people respond to Joshua’s efforts to renew the people’s side of God’ covenant (agreement) with them?

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

 

1. How did the leaders and people know that Joshua’s words would be important to them? He began with these words: “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel.”

 

2. What seemed the biggest problem the Israelites faced? They kept foreign (or false gods) in their households.

 

3. What are some of the first truths Joshua told the Israelites? He reminded them of what the LORD had done for them and their ancestors that showed His love and faithfulness to them.

 

4. What are some of the commands Joshua gave the people? (Joshua 24:14) “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:23) He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.”

 

5. How did the people respond to Joshua’s efforts to renew the people’s side of God’ covenant (agreement) with them? (Joshua 24:21) And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:24) And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”

 

 

Word Search

Leading by Example

December 9, 2018

Joshua 24:1-3, 13-15, 21-24

Name ___________________________

 

S E S S E N T I W A E X R C J

E J S E B I R T J N C T A N O

T R T Q M U C A T E R A H T D

I J X N T P Y G E V S D M R P

R C F Y C L X A K I Q O B J W

O S Z H E M G E V G D N X K A

M X E A F W X T C M J Z M C B

A P R T U I S D R A Y E N I V

E S S V A M N L K J U D G E S

I C H A B R A H A M F P X D G

X A E Q L I H I L N L R S K J

U N C S Y V R P K Y I H U Y T

B A H G D N L B U P J Q S H U

Y A E A U H S O J E X D E A N

S N M F N A H O R O R A J O L

 

Joshua

Tribes

Shechem

Israel

Judges

Euphrates

Terah

Abraham

Nahor

Canaan

Isaac

Vineyards

Egypt

Amorites

Witnesses

 

 

True and False Test

Leading by Example

December 9, 2018

Joshua 24:1-3, 13-15, 21-24

Name __________________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

 

1. Joshua invited the Israelites and the Amorites to Shechem for a feast before the LORD to help the Amorites turn from idolatry. True or False

 

2. Through Joshua, the LORD, the God of Israel, reminded the people that at one time their ancestors (or fathers) had lived beyond the Euphrates River and had served other gods. True or False

 

3. Terah was the father of Abraham, Nahor, and Lot. True or False

 

4. The LORD led Abraham through all the land of Canaan. True or False

 

5. The LORD gave the Israelites cities they had not built. True or False

 

6. The LORD praised the people for not keeping the gods their fathers had served. True or False

 

7. In Joshua’s day, some people thought, and some people still think, it is evil to serve the LORD. True or False

 

8. The people told Joshua, “We will serve the LORD.” True or False

 

9. The people said they were witnesses that they had chosen to serve the LORD. True or False

 

10. Joshua told the people to give all their foreign gods to the Amorites who would not believe in the LORD. True or False

 

 

True and False Test Answers

Joshua 24:1-3, 13-15, 21-24

 

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. True
8. True
9. True

      10.False

 

Prayer

Father, in a world abounding with “gods” that vie for our allegiance, help us never to treat lightly the need to choose daily whom we will serve. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.