I have entered many homes over the years and found these words enshrined within a picture frame, “Choose this day who you will serve. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” They are beautiful words and imply a deep commitment to God.
A question always arises within me when I see them, though, “Is this wall art simply hung for its beauty or does the person really mean it?” It is not a judgment, mind you, but a simple query, “Does this person love God?”
I believe it is also important to acquaint oneself with the authors of the various books of the Bible. Let us not forget that God chose these people.
Who Was Joshua in the Bible?
The Book of Joshua was written by, well, Joshua, and he was a man who we can readily discern had integrity and was very sincere about following God. A bit of background about Joshua can provide us with more insight into this verse.
Joshua is first mentioned in Exodus 17:8-16 as the commander of the Israeli army, as they fought against Amalek in Rephidim. Remember, this is the battle in which when Moses’ hands were raised, the Israelites prevailed, and when he lowered his hands, Amalek gained superiority in the battle.
There even came a time in the battle when Aaron and Hur had to assist in keeping Moses’ hands raised until Joshua defeated Amalek. From his victory in the battle, Joshua was promoted to Moses’ assistant.
In his new position, Joshua ascended the mountain of God with Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the 70 elders of Israel (Exodus 24:9-18). In fact, Moses later singled out Joshua to go at least part of the remaining distance up Mt. Sinai.
He also assisted Moses in the tent of meeting (Exodus 33:11) and recorded in Numbers 13:8, we find that Joshua’s name was actually Hoshea. Joshua is a type of Christ, which is likely why Moses gave him this name. Joshua means, “Yahweh is salvation.” Joshua foreshadowed the coming of Jesus.
Joshua was numbered among the 12 spies tasked with performing reconnaissance in the land of Canaan. Upon their return, he and Caleb were the only members of this team to provide a positive report.
The Israelites were afraid because of the statements made by the other 10 spies and refused to enter the promised land (Numbers 14:6,30,38).
Because of their rejection of God and their refusal to enter the Holy Land, God declared that none of that generation would enter the land save Joshua and Caleb. Thus, the beginning of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness began.
In Numbers 27:15-23, God commanded Moses to set apart Joshua and anoint him and told him that Joshua was to become Israel’s spiritual and military leader after Moses’ departure. It should also be noted that in verse 18, it declares that Joshua was “...a man in whom is the Spirit...”
Upon Moses’ death, Joshua assumed command of the people of Israel at God’s direction. God declared to him, “...as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you, no forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). He is then commanded to begin the conquest of Canaan.
Who Did Joshua Serve?
Joshua is completely surrendered to God. Now that we know a little more about Joshua, we can return our focus to the verse in question. Joshua 24:15 comes at the completion of Joshua’s military campaign.
While there is still much to do, the major parts of the conquest have been accomplished. Joshua is nearing his death and has gathered all of Israel together in order to give his farewell address to the people (Joshua 23:1).
He has lived more than a century, and during that span of time, he has served his God. He is committed and serves with all sincerity and integrity. He has faced many battles and bears the scars from the same.
I imagine a weather-beaten face with skin that resembles leather. He is aged, but his eyes are still sharp and penetrating, the eyes of a warrior.
We must remember that all of the generations that had refused to heed God’s Word to enter the land of Canaan died in the wilderness during the 40 years of wandering.
Joshua is now speaking directly to their children. They have followed this old warrior for many years and witnessed his relationship with Jehovah.
These same people were all very young during the exodus. They were direct witnesses to the many miracles of God, and those that accompany them are their offspring.
Joshua also warns the Israelites about intermingling with the people who are still in the land and that, in so doing, they would be led astray.
As is later discovered, as we proceed through the Old Testament, Israel’s interaction and intermarriage with God’s enemies yielded consequences of immeasurable suffering for generations to come.
In 24:14, Joshua pleaded with the Israelites to “...fear the Lord, and to serve Him in sincerity and truth, and to put away the gods which your fathers served...”
To clarify, Joshua is not encouraging them to keep their household gods but to cast them aside as the useless creations that they are. He makes it clear, though, that no matter what others choose, his choice has been made. He will follow the one true God.
In 24:23, Joshua implores them once again. “‘Now therefore,’ he said, ‘put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel.’”
Bear in mind these are the same people who had witnessed all of the many miracles of God when they left Egypt.
The same people who had not just witnessed but also taken part in the military campaigns of Joshua and seen the miraculous victories. These same people are found to have foreign gods and idols among them!
But we mustn’t be too hasty in condemning the children of Israel. We, too, have experienced God’s grace and quite possibly things that are miraculous, and yet, we often go astray and serve other gods.
Who Do We Serve?
While our “gods” might not be in the form of an idol in the traditional sense, what we are drawn to can still be construed as an idol. Many worship their work and seem to find their identity in what they do for a living. Is living comfortably our god?
When did we last give of ourselves to others? Is money our focal point? Do we help provide for the poor? What about entertainment? Fitness? Pride? Lust? An idol can be virtually anything that takes precedence over our relationship with God.
As previously mentioned, Joshua was a type of Christ, a foreshadowing of Jesus to come. He was a man committed to serving God. God promised to be with him (Joshua 1:5,9); He was encouraged to meditate on the Word (Joshua 1:8).
He saved Gentiles who trusted in Israel’s God (Joshua 6:25); he fulfilled the Law as given to Moses; and he also had a glorious encounter with the pre-incarnate Christ at Jericho, just prior to its destruction (Joshua 5:13-15).
I think it is profound how Jesus responded when asked what the greatest commandment was, recorded in Matthew 22:34-40. He responded with Deuteronomy 6:5, the same verse Joshua alluded to in Joshua 23:11.
That is why on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared with him. Moses represents the Law, and Elijah represents the Prophets. Jesus fulfilled all in the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 17).
Another point to make here is that the first four of the Ten Commandments are addressed in loving God, and the remaining six are when we love our neighbor as ourselves. All 10 are encompassed when we love.
There can be nothing between our relationship with Him, and He is always first. Even our loved ones are second to Him. We are to serve him in complete fidelity. Joshua 24:15 takes on a new meaning since the coming of Jesus (John 14:21).
What Does This Mean?
I sometimes think we have it far easier than the Old Testament saints. What I mean is that because the Holy Spirit indwells each of us, we have a Helper to discern what we must do in any given situation. He is our Helper; only a handful of the saints of old had that blessing.
We receive His promptings every day, throughout the day. We make choices as to whether we will surrender to Him or to our own will. There are but two choices: Thy (the Lord’s) will be done, or my will be done. Sadly, it seems we often choose the latter.
We must commit ourselves anew every day to follow Him. While He was with us in the flesh, He served His God, His Father. Like Joshua, He experienced God’s presence, He mediated on His Word, He saved the Gentiles, and many of us are numbered among them.
I prefer to tell people it is not so much a day-to-day commitment to serve God but rather a moment-by-moment decision. And in those moments, we must ask ourselves if we have the sincerity and integrity of Joshua. We must apply Joshua’s challenge to ourselves.
For further reading:
Why Did God Promise He’d Give Every Place Joshua Set His Foot?
Why Can’t We Serve Two Masters?
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