“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Joshua’s words in these verses contain a rare appeal to Israel to choose between God and the many false substitutes. If Israel rejects the Lord, they would have to choose between the gods that their ancestors worshiped in Mesopotamia and the gods of the Amorites (or Canaanites). This is like saying to a hungry person: If you reject this banquet of delicacies, you may choose between garbage or dung. Of course, this appeal is rhetorical … from God’s perspective there is only one option.
“We will serve the Lord” indicates that even if Joshua and his house have to stand alone against all Israel and the surrounding pagan nations, they will serve the Lord. With his famous words, Joshua clearly and unambiguously took his stand on the side of the living God. Joshua modeled a perfect leader’s actions. A leader must be willing to move ahead and commit himself to the truth regardless of the people’s inclinations. Joshua’s bold example undoubtedly encouraged many to follow the living God.
God’s blessings on your day…