November 24, 1999
FAMILY BIBLE SERIES:
Following God requires
more than lip service
___Joshua 24:1-33
___By Susan Pigott
___Logsdon School of Theology, Abilene
___The people of Israel had reached a crossroads. Joshua gathered them at Shechem just prior to their dispersal into the land of Canaan. It was a significant moment, for they were about to witness first-hand the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant as each of them went to claim their own tribal inheritance.
___At such a pivotal moment, Joshua gave them a history lesson designed to remind them of the kind of God they served. He reminded them of God's guidance of their forefathers (Joshua 24:2-4); of God's great deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt (vv. 5-7); of God's leadership in the glorious battles in the Trans-Jordan region (vv. 8-10); and of God's miraculous intervention in the conquest of Canaan (vv. 11-13).
___Based on these divine acts of provision, Joshua presented Israel with the challenge of a lifetime: Choose the Lord or choose the gods of Canaan (Joshua 24:14-15). It seems pretty clear from Joshua's words that the people's loyalties already had been compromised somewhat. Now, as they entered the Promised Land, Joshua asked them to make a decision that would impact their future in the land. Would they devote themselves completely to Yahweh, or would they compromise the covenant and continue worshiping other gods?
___Although the people immediately responded that they would serve the Lord, Joshua was skeptical of their commitment: "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. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you ... " (24:19-20). These are harsh and startling words, but Joshua was trying to emphasize that following God requires absolute commitment.
___"Holy" means God is completely other, totally unlike humans. "Jealous" when applied to God does not mean envious or suspicious. Rather it indicates God demands unequivocal loyalty and will tolerate no compromise. "God will not forgive ... " does not mean God cannot forgive, but that the sin of idolatry was inexcusable for Israel. It was a violation of the first commandment and would result in ultimate disaster for the people--if they failed to choose the Lord, they would forfeit the land.
___The people of Israel wholeheartedly committed themselves to God that day at Shechem (see 24:21-27). Unfortunately, they failed to live up to their obligations and almost immediately began worshiping the gods of Canaan, as the book of Judges so vividly depicts. It is easy for us to stand in judgment over the Israelites' lack of resolve, but we must be reminded of our own tendency to compromise our commitments. We may not serve the gods of Canaan, but the idols of today are equally powerful seducers: money, success, power, materialism, etc. Our daily choices reflect the true depth of our commitment. Do we really believe God is holy and jealous and following God demands our absolute loyalty? Or do we, like Israel, assume too quickly that following the Lord requires little more than lip service?
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