We now move onto some of the history books of the Old Testament starting with Joshua - with its theme, “Take the land.” The Book of Joshua does not explicitly name its author. More than likely Joshua the son of Nun, the successor of Moses as leader over Israel, penned much of this book.
The Book of Joshua provides an overview of the military campaigns to conquer the land area that God had promised. Following the exodus from Egypt and the subsequent forty years of the wilderness wanderings, the newly-formed nation is now poised to enter the Promised Land, conquer the inhabitants, and occupy the territory. The overview that we have here gives abbreviated and selective details of many of the battles and the manner in which the land was not only conquered, but how it was divided into tribal areas.
To our New Testament ears, all this talk of battles seems so foreign yet out of all this mayhem we eventually come to the pivotal text of Joshua 24:14-15. “So revere Jehovah and serve him in sincerity and truth. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Worship the Lord alone. But if you are unwilling to obey the Lord, then decide today whom you will obey. Will it be the gods of your ancestors beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites here in this land? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
We live in a world of choices. We choose our toothpaste, deodorant, cars, houses, jobs, life style, friends, church. The list goes on. Everyday we are confronted with choices.
Some choices are major, others are minor but they must be made. Someone has already said, “To make no choice is a choice.”
The greatest choice we can ever make is to choose the God of our life.
What Joshua is saying here, in his last public presentation, is what Elijah says centuries later.
“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” I Kings 18:21
The elderly Joshua informs us that we have a choice of whom we serve. This was Israel’s choice and the choice is still with us today.
Lord, help me to constantly see those things in my life that keep me from loving You. As I identify that which deters me in faith, give me the courage to choose You above all things. Give me the wisdom to know how to choose You above all things. Amen
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