Joshua
24:1-33.Making Choices: As For Me and My House
Joshua
24:1-33.
American Journal of Biblical
Theology,
February 4, 2007
Copyright © 2007, J.W. Carter. Scripture quotes
from KJV
Choices. Life is full of choices as we make hundreds each day while we pass through its experiences. We choose what we will wear. We choose what we want to eat. We choose who we will associate with. We choose how we will spend our time, money, and resources. Our lives are one long sequence of decisions, many of which have subtle but dramatic influences on our future, and all of which tend to shape who we are. This set of choices is determined by our world view and the set of priorities that we establish for ourselves.
Our choices are also influenced by outside forces that may conflict with our own desires when their authority supersedes our own freedom to express our own will. This can also happen when we make bad choices and find ourselves having to deal with their consequences.
Our choices also impact others as they shape the nature of our relationships and interactions with one another.
If there were no purpose or pattern to our choices, our lives would be characterized by chaos and conflict. Consequently, the basis for our choices is one of the most significant influences in our lives. What is it that shapes that set of our choices that so defines us?
The Christian has a very distinct and special answer to that question. God created us for one purpose: to love Him. God's ultimate will is that we would turn to Him in faith and trust. God has promised a secure, eternal life with Him for all who place their trust in Him; a life that is abundant in love, peace and joy. However, many who claim to have placed their faith in God still experience the chaos and conflict that are the consequence of poor choices when those choices are not brought fully under the authority of the Holy Spirit. Many who claim to place their trust in God still hang on to ungodly influences in their lives that contribute to the chaos and rob them of the love, peace, and joy that God promises.
God's promise was given to ancient Israel as they were brought out of Egyptian bondage and were settled in the promised land of Canaan. God's command to the Hebrews was simple: love and obey Him. If they would obey Him, God would lead them into Canaan where they were to take over the entire country and destroy or chase out all who are there. The battle would belong to the LORD as He would cleanse the land of all other inhabitants. However, the Hebrews made some bad choices that compromised God's intended plan for them.
Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
At this point Joshua is about 110 years old. It appears that it has been about 25 years since the nation crossed the Jordan and took Jericho. A quick summary of those years: Joshua set up a stronghold by taking Ai, dividing the defending nations into a northern and southern group. He set up the religious center at Shechem. Recall that it was here that Abram heard from God concerning the details of his promise, and Jacob heard from God concerning his fears over meeting Esau. This was already considered a sacred place. Joshua made a pact with the Gibeonites, those in the central region, and did not destroy them. He moved south against the coalition of kings there, then attacked the northern kings and their forces. Israel did not conquer all of the land, and rather than treat the nations as cursed, they often left many of their enemies alive. They did, however, divide the land among the tribes, leaving them the responsibility of finishing the job.
The last two chapters of Joshua describe the messages, or sermons, that Joshua delivered to the people. They are a summary of Joshua's understanding of God's will concerning His people. It is the equivalent of a "death-bed" statement and carries with it not only God's truth, but also the priority placed upon that truth by the circumstance. It may be the most important lesson taught in the Book of Joshua.
Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods.
Joshua was known as a military leader, but he was also their religious leader. When he spoke to the people, on who's authority did he speak? (God's) Why? (God had called Him to serve in this capacity and had empowered him to serve faithfully. Joshua never forgot the source of his authority, continually pointing the people to God, rather than taking authority upon himself.)
But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. 5 "'Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. 6 When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7 But they cried to the LORD for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert for a long time. 8 "'I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand. 11 "'Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands.
What do you see when you consider this summary of the Israelites experience over the past years? God was the provider, protector for them during the entire period. In our study of the call of Abraham we learn of why God chose to do this. Why did God choose to treat the nation of Israel in this manner? God did so to reveal himself to man by their witness, and that through them He might be glorified. What should be the response of the Hebrew people if they were to understand the context of their history concerning the choices they make? They would probably have a sincere choice to follow God's direction rather than follow the limited wisdom of their own. After describing what God has done, Joshua is about to reveal to them God's judgments should they turn away from Him.
I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you--also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13 So I gave you a 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 that you did not plant.'
What did God do in front of the Israelites as they entered the land? The word, hornet, could also be translated as panic. What do people usually do when a swarm of hornets comes after them? They run! Resistance is futile. The Canaanites knew quite well the 40-year history of this huge mass of people who overran the kingdoms they encountered. So, as long as the Hebrews advanced with the LORD's blessing, the Canaanites fled, and the land and all the spoils thereof were handed to the Hebrews. Why, do you suppose that Joshua mentions this at this point? God is reminding the people that it is He who is accomplishing His purpose for them, and not they themselves. If they will put their trust in Him, He will accomplish His work completely for them. All they need to do is to be faithful and watch the grace of God in action.
es, meaning "without wax". Wax was used to polish second-rate pottery, making it look like high-quality pottery. Also, it filled small cracks, making the pottery hold water. What happens when the wax dries and evaporates? (The pottery becomes dull and leaks.) High quality pottery had the words "en sensera" etched on the bottom, to identify that there was no wax. It was the real thing, and could be depended upon to retain its quality because it was not something other than what appeared. This concept of sincerity and faithfulness to God has been the foundation of truth through the ages. The Hebrews were told to throw away their gods from beyond the river, in Egypt and in Canaan. What kind of gods do we have to discard? (any form which has authority over us to the point that it is in conflict with our faithful service to God.)"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
In what way does Joshua state that we must relate to God? (Fear the Lord in sincerity.) What does it mean to fear the Lord? (To recognize who He is, responding appropriately to His authority, acting in obedience to His word.) This also states that our response to Him must be sincere or faithful. What does it mean to be sincere? (Without guile or deceit.) The Greek words rendered in the New Testament for this form of sincerity is, en sinsera,
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Is serving God unreasonable or undesirable to some people? (Yes) What do most people who do not place their trust in God think of those who do? (They are unreasonable, ignorant, undesirable, unenlightened.) To them, serving God seems wrong, undesirable, or evil as stated here. Here Joshua is giving the people a choice. Has God given us a choice? What kind of choices do we have?
How will the world treat a person who has chosen to serve God? (Usually with disdain, seldom with respect.) How do many people in the church respond to those who choose to serve God with integrity? (They are often criticized for being dogmatic, too religious, gone over the edge, etc.) Why does this happen within the church? (Many church members lack sincerity.) Their faith is weak and cracked, so they polish their faith with wax. What wax do Christians use to disguise the weaknesses in their faith? (Hypocrisy, loud words and prayers, pushing their own agenda, baseless commitments and promises.)
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God." 19 Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you." 21 But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD."
How did the people respond to Joshua's revelation to the people? (They stated that they would serve the Lord.) It was clear by the statements from the people that they clearly understood the message. They clearly understood that God had taken care of them and would continue to do so if they would be faithful and sincere in their obedience to Him. They clearly understood that failure to do so would be disaster.
So, the people vowed to serve God. Again, let's look at how this applies to our time, in our churches. It appears that most church members maintain that membership somewhere around the perimeter of activity. Their commitment is marginal at best, attending services at will, taking little or no responsibility, and refusing to be obedient in giving of their resources, time, or abilities to God. However, when in attendance what is their response to God's word? How do they usually respond when it is time to vote on an issue? Usually, their response is "We will do it..." Just as the Hebrews often did. And, just as the Hebrews did not have enough faith to fulfill their insincere vows, those marginal Christians fail to fulfill theirs also. What is the consequence of these baseless promises? How does God respond to hypocritical faith?
Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied.
What did Joshua mean when he stated that they are "Witnesses against " themselves? (He could see through their hypocrisy and knew what would be its result. Soon the wax would dry and their faith would become dull and crumble.) Joshua realized that there was no base in their promise. The best he could do is to continue to preach God's word to them, trying to persuade them to turn from their worldly ways.
"Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." 24 And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him."
Here, Joshua got very specific. He described the greatest hindrance to their faith: their propensity to give authority to created things rather than the creator. Do we have a propensity to do the same? (Yes.) What do we give authority to? What is it that keeps us from completely giving all to God? What causes us to hold back? God has called us to share His love with the world, ministering in His name. What is keeping us from that ministry? If you have not turned your life over to God completely, you are not receiving all of the blessing that God has for you. You are also under a judgment similar to what the Hebrews experienced. Granted, as a child of God, you have the Holy Spirit to guide and direct you in being obedient, and it is actually easier for you than it was for them. How much greater have we sinned when we ignore the Holy Spirit? Still, when challenged, we often say, "We will serve the Lord our God and obey Him." But when we are called upon to act on that statement we find excuses.
On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD. 27 "See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God." 28 Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.
A Breach of Loyalty
After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 30 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 31 Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel. 32 And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants. 33 And Eleazar son of Aaron died and was buried at Gibeah, which had been allotted to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.
God had promised the land to the Hebrews if they would just take it. Joshua was not able to complete the task, both because of the length of the campaign, and his penchant to retire to comfort in his last years. The task to conquer the remainder of the land was left to Caleb and to the other leaders. And, for a time they did succeed in maintaining their allegiance to God. The wax had not yet dried out, but it was beginning to evaporate. Soon each of the tribes of Israel became satisfied with their state of security and failed to follow God's command. Take a quick glance at Judges 1:28-2:3
Judg 1:28-36. When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely. 29 Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live there among them. 30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, who remained among them; but they did subject them to forced labor. 31 Nor did Asher drive out those living in Acco or Sidon or Ahlab or Aczib or Helbah or Aphek or Rehob, 32 and because of this the people of Asher lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land. 33 Neither did Naphtali drive out those living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath; but the Naphtalites too lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, and those living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became forced laborers for them. 34 The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain. 35 And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, but when the power of the house of Joseph increased, they too were pressed into forced labor. 36 The boundary of the Amorites was from Scorpion Pass to Sela and beyond.
Judg 2:1-3. The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3 Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."
God had commanded the Hebrews to rout all of the people from the land so that there would be no pagan influence within the nation. That pagan influence would be a thorn in their side that would nullify any attempts for the Jewish leadership to lead the nation in faith and godliness.
For how long did the Hebrews experience this thorn in their side? Israel is still fighting the Canaanites. Did Israel receive the promised peace and use of the land? Recall that Israel lost the land when it was taken by the Assyrians and Babylonians between 500 and 700 BC. Why did they lose the land? They failed to honor God with their choices. The took just enough of their God and their faith to justify their self-righteousness, keeping the rest of their lives outside of God's influence. For them, faith was replaced with a religion. Love for God was replaced by a system of rules that made them think they were good. The writer of Judges would later note that each did "what was right in their own eyes" as the nation turned farther and farther away from God. When the period of the Hebrew kings came to an end, the nation had turned entirely away from the LORD. They lost the protection that God provided to His faithful. They had broken the covenant with their bad choices.
Is your life in turmoil? Are you not receiving the peace that God's spirit promised? Take a real look at your choices. Are they self-centered or God-centered? Do they seek to satisfy your own desires, or do they seek to bring your life more in line with God's plan and purpose for your life? God has given us plenty of human experience to draw from, testimony to the truth of His word. Seek God's guidance in removing the insincerity, the wax, from your life. Let your life be without the shallow embellishment of falsehood as you grow closer to the LORD, continually in prayer, and continually listening to the still-small voice of the Holy Spirit for guidance concerning every choice of life. The reward is fellowship with God in peace. The alternative is alienation from him and turmoil. Still, the choices are up to us and we will have to live with the consequence of those choices. Truth or Consequences. Choose Truth as Joshua did when he stated, "Choose you whom you will serve this day ... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."