Life Is Shaped by Choices

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

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Joshua 24:14-22, 26, 27

JOSHUA had remained faithful to the trust the Lord placed in him. He was now “old and stricken in age,” and although the task of conquering the land of Canaan and dividing it among the tribes of Israel was not completed, he realized that there was little more that he could do about it. So, Joshua’s chief concern now was that the Israelites copy his example of faithfully following the Lord, and obeying his law.—Josh. 13:1; 21:1,2

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel before him to Shechem, and said to them, “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 [river] and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.” (Josh. 24:1,2,14) It seems from this account that the Israelites were even then, to some extent, worshiping gods other than Jehovah.

In addition to being faithful to the Lord, Joshua had a good understanding of human nature. He felt that if he could get the people to commit themselves, and go on record that they would put away all other gods, and serve only Jehovah, it would strengthen their determination for the right. In speaking the words of our text, Joshua was observing the fact that serving the true God of Israel required much greater diligence to laws and precepts, which might seem burdensome to them. But when these were heeded and respected, Jehovah had proven himself to be a powerful, living God, working for the side of right and for his people. Compared with the supposed deities of the heathen people around them, the choice should not have been difficult.

The people’s reply was both in the affirmative and enthusiastic. They said, “God forbid that we should forsake the Lord [Jehovah], to serve other gods.” (vs. 16) Many had been born while the nation was in Egyptian bondage, and they remembered the myriad of wonderful things the Lord had done for them, even beginning when they were still in Egypt. These past blessings from the Lord strengthened them to take this firm stand.

We read in verse 31, “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that over-lived Joshua and which had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel.” What a wonderful example Joshua must have been to them!

It takes great leadership to make people great. Throughout Israel’s history whenever their leaders faithfully served God, so did the nation; but when their leaders were disobedient, the people seemed to follow them into evil ways.

How fitting that our Lord Jesus should have been given the name of Joshua. For he is destined to be the leader whom the people will someday look to, and follow in ridding the world of sin and evil (the immorality of the Canaanites), and every idol and high thing that exalts itself above the knowledge of God.

Jesus’ past example of loyalty to God even unto death, and his future inspirational leadership in his kingdom, will cause the people to look to him for victory. His motto will be like Joshua’s of old: “As for me and my house [then the world of mankind], we will serve the Lord!

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