Choosing to Serve God

KEY VERSE: “The people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.” —Joshua 24:24

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Joshua 24:1, 2, 11-16, 22-25

JOSHUA MADE A farewell speech to the Israelites, recorded in chapters 23 and 24 of the Book of Joshua. He reminded the people of the wonderful manner in which God had dealt with and blessed Abraham and Isaac and Jacob; of how he had brought the whole nation out of the land of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and kept them alive in the wilderness. He recounted their miraculous crossing of Jordan, and the victories the Lord had given them since entering the Land of Promise. Joshua emphasized how important it had been to them that they followed the Lord’s instructions in taking the land. When they did not do this, failure accompanied their efforts.

Following the victory over Jericho, disappointment awaited them. The next fortified stronghold of the enemy to be taken was the small city of Ai. Following his usual custom, Joshua sent men to “go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.”—Josh. 7:2

However, unintentionally, they brought back a deceptive report to Joshua. Having conquered the mighty and heavily walled city of Jericho, the little city of Ai seemed insignificant; so the spies said to Joshua, “Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few.”—vs. 3

Joshua took this advice, but the small army he sent against Ai suffered a humiliating defeat. As a consequence, the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” (vs. 5) How quickly they forgot the miracles of Jordan and of the crumbling walls of Jericho! Even Joshua, to whom the Lord had said, I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee,” felt that the Lord had deserted him and the people.

With these faith-trying experiences permitted by divine providence as test of their obedience, Joshua warned them against worshiping false gods and called upon them to continue serving the true God. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served, … or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”—Josh. 24:15

Joshua called upon the Israelites to go on record as to where they stood with respect to their God. He instructed them to “Put away the gods which your fathers served … and serve ye the Lord.” His eloquent appeal was effective, for the people answered, “God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods.” (Josh. 24:14-16) They said, “The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.”

The people renewed their covenant to serve the Lord, and again Joshua warned, if ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.” (vs. 20) Again the people affirmed their determination to serve Jehovah, the true God, saying, “The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.”—vs. 24

Joshua was a faithful servant of the Lord, and a strong leader of God’s people. He “died, being an hundred and ten years old.” (vs. 29) Verse 31 informs us that “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel.” What a wonderful tribute to the faithful example of this man of God!

Unlike the experiences of Moses while leading the people of Israel in the wilderness, many of which are mentioned in the New Testament as types, we have only the two references to Joshua, one of which relates to the failure of the Israelites to enter into rest under his leadership. (Heb. 4:8) His conquering of so much of the Land of Promise cannot, therefore, be considered as being specifically typical, although many helpful lessons may properly be drawn from these experiences.

As Christian soldiers, fighting the ‘good fight of faith’, we have many ‘Canaanites’ to fight, and it is only by faith in the Lord and the obedient following of his instructions, making use of all the means of grace which he has provided, that we can hope to be victorious.

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