Joshua 24:15
Joshua was the first general of the armies of Israel. He was also the successor to Moses as leader over the nation upon their entrance into the Promised Land. The book that bears his name is the story of Israel’s journeys under this great man and its last chapter is his final charge to the people preceding his death.
Joshua’s speech to Israel not only recounts their journey from Egypt into Canaan, but it also ministers of God’s grace. “And I have given you a land for which ye did not labor, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive yards which ye planted not do ye eat” (Joshua 24:13). No work went into the cities that they were living in or the food that they were eating, thus these blessings were a result of God’s grace. It is glorious how Joshua, though under the law, takes opportunity to minister to God’s people concerning His abundant grace and favor.
This speech contains one of the greatest proclamations of choice that is recorded in the Word. Joshua has just challenged the people to put away the strange gods which had come from Egypt and to serve the LORD. He lays in front of them the choice as to whom they will serve, “whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell” (Joshua 24:15). Then he declares his own intent, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”.
Note the King James usage of “LORD” in this verse, showing us that the original Hebrew word here is “Yahweh” or “Covenant Lord”. Joshua is declaring that he and his house choose to trust the God of covenant. When you appeal to the God of Covenant, you are holding God to his end of the deal so to speak. As New Covenant saints, when we appeal to Covenant, we are appealing to Christ’s finished work on the cross. What Jesus paid for, we are recipients of, and we should always appeal backwards to the cross to rest in what is rightfully ours by His blood.
Joshua not only declares that he will serve the LORD, but that his house will serve the LORD as well. As the priest of his home he has declared that his entire household will follow after the covenant that God has made and they will trust God to keep that covenant. Men should take this as an example from the great Joshua. Take the lead in your home and steer your family towards the things of God. Be the husband to your wife as Christ is to His church, loving her passionately and speaking sweetness to her, and father your children as the Father loves His Prodigal Son, with open arms and forgiveness of heart. When you lead in this way, you will not have to wonder if there is anyone following, for the household will gladly go after the man who is going after the LORD.
Never forget to open the challenge for following the Lord with as much grace as possible. There is no such thing as “too much grace”, though some will try to dissuade you from referring to this wonderful gift for fear that it will bring a license to sin. Where sin is great, grace is greater and if we can agree that sin is rampant in this world, we should agree that grace is needed now more than ever!
Joshua was the first general of the armies of Israel. He was also the successor to Moses as leader over the nation upon their entrance into the Promised Land. The book that bears his name is the story of Israel’s journeys under this great man and its last chapter is his final charge to the people preceding his death.
Joshua’s speech to Israel not only recounts their journey from Egypt into Canaan, but it also ministers of God’s grace. “And I have given you a land for which ye did not labor, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive yards which ye planted not do ye eat” (Joshua 24:13). No work went into the cities that they were living in or the food that they were eating, thus these blessings were a result of God’s grace. It is glorious how Joshua, though under the law, takes opportunity to minister to God’s people concerning His abundant grace and favor.
This speech contains one of the greatest proclamations of choice that is recorded in the Word. Joshua has just challenged the people to put away the strange gods which had come from Egypt and to serve the LORD. He lays in front of them the choice as to whom they will serve, “whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell” (Joshua 24:15). Then he declares his own intent, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”.
Note the King James usage of “LORD” in this verse, showing us that the original Hebrew word here is “Yahweh” or “Covenant Lord”. Joshua is declaring that he and his house choose to trust the God of covenant. When you appeal to the God of Covenant, you are holding God to his end of the deal so to speak. As New Covenant saints, when we appeal to Covenant, we are appealing to Christ’s finished work on the cross. What Jesus paid for, we are recipients of, and we should always appeal backwards to the cross to rest in what is rightfully ours by His blood.
Joshua not only declares that he will serve the LORD, but that his house will serve the LORD as well. As the priest of his home he has declared that his entire household will follow after the covenant that God has made and they will trust God to keep that covenant. Men should take this as an example from the great Joshua. Take the lead in your home and steer your family towards the things of God. Be the husband to your wife as Christ is to His church, loving her passionately and speaking sweetness to her, and father your children as the Father loves His Prodigal Son, with open arms and forgiveness of heart. When you lead in this way, you will not have to wonder if there is anyone following, for the household will gladly go after the man who is going after the LORD.
Never forget to open the challenge for following the Lord with as much grace as possible. There is no such thing as “too much grace”, though some will try to dissuade you from referring to this wonderful gift for fear that it will bring a license to sin. Where sin is great, grace is greater and if we can agree that sin is rampant in this world, we should agree that grace is needed now more than ever!
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