Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, “... I brought you out...I gave them into your hands...I gave you 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 you did not plant. Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness...But if serving the Lord seems unreasonable to you then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:2ff
Joshua was nearing his death when he delivered this message to Israel. He was close to 110 years old. Joshua was one servant who walked close to God, who obediently trusted God not wavering a bit throughout his life. His experience with God was that which taught him that God is the One who gave him and his people everything they had.
Joshua knew what he was talking about when he said, “The Lord brought you out. The Lord gave the enemy into your hand. The Lord gave you the land where you live, he gave you the cities and you didn’t even have to work to build them. It is the Lord who gave you the food you eat; food from the vineyards and the olive groves you did not plant.”
Given what I know about the history of this people, and also what I know about every generation of humankind from then until now, what Joshua said next leading to his question seems quite prophetic. Knowing that Almighty God saves his people from the enemy, bringing them out of bondage, giving them everything; victory, land, a place to live, food, whatever it is that a person has, the implied question is this, how then can you not fear Him? How can you not serve him with ALL faithfulness? Whom then will you serve? Now you have a decision to make. If it is unreasonable for you to serve this God, then choose whom you will serve.
After Joshua died these people turned from God and served the Baals, idols, false gods. They did not fear God, and they were disobedient because they did not continue the fight to destroy the pagan peoples in the lands where they settled. They made the decision about whom they would serve.
Who today really has chosen to serve God? Who today really believes that God has provided everything they have? Who today really trusts God to deliver them from the enemy? Who today actually seeks God’s guidance concerning all of the evils in society? It is no wonder that our younger generations are not acknowledging God, and are showing little respect, if any for the sacred. Who today fears the Lord?
All, of us have a choice to make. I believe with all of my heart that the answer for our world today is found in the decision that Joshua made, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Bro. J.P., what we need is for more men that love God and their family enough to stand up and say exactly what Joshua said, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”, and then set the example for their family. It's a sad world we live in and getting sadder by the day. "Come Lord Jesus!"
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