This chapter wraps up an era Joshua and the promise of God to the chosen Israel to establish them as His people in a land He has designated for them. It begins by Josh gathering the people to retell their story to them. How God has called them, led them, rescued them, provided for them, and has chosen a place for them to live and to prosper.
As I re-read their story I was reminded of how personal God is. Reaching down to one man, to Abram whom He chose as the starting point of a people as His representative. (All a part of the longer story that has been written in all 66 chapters of His book.) All powerful, creator, God chose a single simple man also speaks of how relational God is. The overview of their history didn’t include all of the failures of Israel, but it did highlight the care and compassion of their God. Why? Because God is the ultimate leader. He knows where we are going and gives us what we need to head in that direction. They needed to know that they could count on God, that God was powerful and capable to meet their needs.
It’s important to know the backstory, isn’t it? The abbreviated backstory leads Joshua to proclaim this challenge. “Now, fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness.” (v14)
“Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped”. Wait, what?! Are you kidding me? They are still carrying around false gods? After ALL that they have been through? This stuck out like a sore thumb in the midst of Joshua’s pep rally. Generations have passed for them, but I’ve read through their stories in a matter of days. In the quick summary I can only see that God has been merciful and generous. He has been so incredibly patient but also holy and He has drawn clear lines defining what is acceptable and what is not. Although they have failed over and over and over to be obedient and faithful to Him, He has been a Father of all fathers dusting them off and send them on their way again.
This leads me to look at my own life. If someone read through the decades of my life they would also see that God has been holy and just and forgiving and generous and loving and gentle and all of these things to me and I have also been obedient for a while and then something else stole my attention and affection. God was not #1. In time, He got my attention again and I confessed my sin and followed Him for a while… distractions….. disappointments….so many things creep in until idols are picked up and dusted off and my attention is redirected. How about you? Can you relate to this tumultuous relationship Israel had with God? It’s so easy to read their story shaking your head and wondering what is wrong with them, isn’t it? I’ve long thought that. Until I realized the picture that God painted for me to examine my own heart.
And begs me to make a choice.
You see, God gave Israel a choice. He so desperately desired His chosen to to worship and serve Him wholly, but He didn’t force or demand it. He showed them His character and competency and let them choose.
He has given me and you the same choice today. We can pick up any god we want to. We can polish it and display it and give our time and energy to it and where will that god take us? That thing (satisfaction, affirmation, pride, happiness) that we get from it, how long does it last?
Joshua made his stand and told the people he is serving the Lord! I am standing with Joshua and committing my life to honor and serve the Lord.
I pray you will too.