This is a common phrase used on wall hangings for many of us at the front door or in the kitchen. Some of you may have it in your home. It is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua, chapter 24:15. Many of us might be familiar with the quote, but we often don’t know the context of when and why it was written, and we might miss the deeper meaning. Let me give you a simple background to this famous pledge that Joshua declared.
The Children of Israel, the Jewish nation, had left Egypt having been released from slavery. After crossing the Red Sea in that miraculous story, they received the 10 Commandments from God and were promised a new land to ‘set up’ a nation of worship of the One True God. This new land, often referred to as the “Promised Land” was there to be occupied, but before they went into to this new land, they wandered in the wilderness desert of Sinai for 40 years — the length of time of an entire generation. Moses died before entering the promised land, but Joshua became the leader of this huge wandering population made up of the famous 12 tribes of Israel. They finally crossed over the Jordan River in another miracle and then region after region they began to occupy this new promised land. But they were given this land not just to have their own place, but be a lighthouse to all the nations of the world what true worship was to the only true God. I have just given you an extremely condensed summary of the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. Now at the end of the book of Joshua, he too (like Moses had before him) was about to die an old man. And in this last chapter of the book of Joshua he was issuing a charge – a commission – a challenge – to the chosen people of God on what they must now carry on and why. This charge was a renewal commitment and essentially, he was drawing a line in the sand with this new generation. It was now their turn to pick up the challenge of true and obedient worship to the only God, the one true God, and live it out in their home while passing it on the future generations. I find it fascinating that Joshua was not just handing out a placard to put on their wall, or a pin to put on their shirt, or issuing T-shirts(bling) to the Jewish nation to show off a nice quote. He was issuing to them the core of a real Covenant Pledge that each person, each household, must examine carefully. This land that was given to you by the Almighty was not just something to be taken for granted or just a ‘nice gift from the Almighty’ so that they can now just live any way they want. It was a renewal of the same obedience that was issued at Passover a generation before. You – individually – and collectively – must come to ‘choose for yourself on this day who you will serve!’ Either the gods of everyone else, or the one true God. You cannot have it both ways or have dual loyalty. This is what leads us to this great challenge issued by the dying old man leader Joshua that we find in Joshua 24:15. This is the backdrop to this famous quote you see even at craft and home décor stores that sell them for home decorations.
This Sunday I am bringing a message to parents of young children. This is part of a series of messages this summer we are calling “The Gospel in Every Chapter of Life.” Being a parent is very much a major chapter for some of us. I will bring a message and use this famous passage of Joshua 24:15 as the backdrop to this. I urge you to take a meditative look at this verse, and in context the whole chapter, before you come to worship with the family of faith. I very much look forward to it. As a church family we will pray for the families at LifeWay as you fulfill one of the greatest tasks out there… raise your children who are a true gift from God. It is really a prayer for the whole church family as we stand with you as your raise those wonderful gifts from God.
See you Sunday.
