Two worldviews have clashed since the fall of mankind in Genesis 3. The last chapter of the book of Joshua depicts a microcosm of this clash: God vs. gods. Joshua, in love, confronted and challenged Israel to choose the truth over the falsehood.

Background

It has been about 10-15 years since the completion of the land distribution to all twelve tribes of Israel. Joshua might have seen how the Israelites behaved as they started to settle in the land that the LORD gave. Unfortunately, Joshua saw a few alarming signs among the Israelite community, who started to gradually allow the penetration of false gods in their presence in the past 10-15 years.

In the midst of this background, Joshua summoned Israel in Shechem to confront them by delivering his last public address. 

The Place of Gathering: Shechem before the LORD

Shechem was a very suitable place for Joshua to make his purpose clear in his last address. He wanted Israel to make an important decision and urged them to serve the true God. 

The actual physical place where Joshua gathered the Israelites was Shechem. Shechem was a special place for the Israelites. Shechem was one of the first cities in Canaan that Abraham visited and built an altar (Genesis 12:6-7). In Shechem, Jacob took all foreign gods in his household and buried them under the oak at Shechem (Genesis 35:4-5). Also, Shechem was one of the cities given to the Levites and also a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7). Thus, a special place for the Israelites. 

More importantly than the physical place itself was the presence of the LORD as Joshua and Israel gathered “before God (Joshua 24:1).” When Joshua cast lots, it was done before the LORD. When Israel made a big, important decision, it was before the LORD. 

Historical Account: The LORD led Israel (Joshua 24:2-13)

Therefore, Shechem was a suitable place for Joshua. It was the place where God was first acknowledged by Abraham and where all foreign gods were buried. Joshua gathered the Israelites and urged them to make almost exactly the same action – acknowledge the true God and bury all foreign, false gods. 

Joshua recounted the history of the Israelites, starting from Abraham. Joshua determined that this historical account that highlighted a few characters of God was the essential element in his last public address to Israel. Again, as in his statement in chapter 23, his message solely focused on what God did and His associated characters, as highlighted on the four points below. In other words, Joshua was illuminating there is no god like the LORD God, the God of Israel, who loved, rescued and led His people.

• The LORD who rescues and leads: Terah made and sold physical idols made of woods or iron, and his son, Abraham was his assistant in the land of Haran. However, we see that the LORD in His sovereignty personally pursued and chose Abraham to lead him away from a life under idols.

• The LORD who listens and delivers: During 400 years of slavery, the Israelites cried out to the LORD. The LORD had compassion on His people and chose Moses and Aaron and sent them to “deliver” the Israelites out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt.
• The LORD who continues to fight: After crossing the Red sea, the LORD fought for the Israelites against the Amorites. After crossing the Jordan River, the LORD sent hornets to defeat the Canaanites and gave their land to Israel.
• The LORD who bestows grace: In addition to the land, God gave cities, vineyards, olive groves that the Israelites did not build. Receiving something that you did not labor for? They are gifts, which are grace.

You may not think you have a “grand” history as stated by Joshua about Israel. However, you do have it. Have a quiet time to meditate on your life. Your life before and after Christ is fundamentally different with a new status although it may not be apparent outside. 

Now, Today (not tomorrow) Fear and Serve the LORD

“Now…fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth…
choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…
but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”
Joshua 24:14-15 (underline added)

Joshua made an emphatic message that it needed to be “now” and “today” that they make a determination. Why “now” and “today”? First, most of the Israelites at the time of Joshua’s final address, had experienced God personally. They saw how God parted the Jordan River. They saw how God fought for them in the battles of Jericho, Ai, southern and northern kings. They experienced the God who fought for them. Because Joshua knew that they experienced God, there was simply no excuse for them not to serve the LORD God “now” and “today.” That was why Joshua stated that “Now, therefore” and gave a command for them to “serve Him in sincerity and truth.” Joshua was asking them to come to their senses and do something very logical and natural – which was to serve God.

Joshua also made a second emphatic message in a declaration form and also a minor provocation to the rest of the Israelites. Regardless of external circumstance, whatever the rest of the Israelites would do, he claimed that he and his household would serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15). He, in fact, declared that he would choose the best option and would never let his faith in and serve of God be a “dependent variable” of the spiritual condition of the rest of society.

Wise Confrontation and Three Declarations (Joshua 24:16-24)

In this section, Joshua and Israel conversed back-and-forth. In this set of exchanges, we see wisdom displayed by Joshua in drawing out self-conviction of the Israelites instead of directly condemning them. 

As soon as Joshua declared that his household would serve the LORD, Israel, who heard Joshua’s historical account, reiterated Joshua’ historical account in their word, and declared back “we will also serve the LORD (Joshua 24:18).” This was their first declaration.

Then, Joshua provoked them gently, responding back, “You will not be able to serve the Lord…” Perhaps, being challenged by this statement of Joshua, Israel emphatically made the same declaration the second time, “No, but we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:21)”

After hearing the declaration the second time, Joshua finally told them that “you are witnesses for yourself.” It was not until the second declaration that Joshua pointed out their core problem – foreign gods. Joshua told them to put away the foreign gods which were in their midst and incline their hearts to the LORD (Joshua 24:23). Israel had nothing to counter Joshua’s remark because they had already stated twice that they would serve the LORD. With this, they made the same declaration the third time: “We will serve the Lord our God and we will obey His voice (Joshua 24:24).”

I see a sheer brilliance in communication displayed by Joshua. Joshua knew that the presence of foreign gods and the spiritual condition of the Israelites was a looming problem. If Joshua told them to put away foriegn gods in their midst at first directly, Israel might have balked, denied, or rebelled. Instead, Joshua outlined all the good things that the LORD had done and how they had experienced and draw out their voluntary response that “they would serve the LORD.” Once they made these responses, they were possibly convicted in their heart and just had to agree with Joshua to put away foreign gods that resided in their midst.

Clash of Worldviews: God vs. gods

Since mankind sinned in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), there has been an inevitable clash between God and gods in our heart. Joshua chapter 24 also depicts a microcosm of this clash. 

One of the most repeated vocabularies in this chapter is “God” – the true God. The other frequently repeated word in this chapter is “gods” – the false gods of this world. Joshua knew this fundamental, cosmic clash, and urged God’s people to choose and serve the true God. 

How about you? This chapter is extremely relevant to our lives today. Let’s choose and serve the true God. 

Conclusion

Chapters 23 and 24 together are Joshua’s last public address to Israel. He declared that his household and he would serve the LORD. In addition, he confronted the Israelites to draw out their declaration that they would serve the LORD God three times, and then made a witness of declaration in the stone under the oak tree in Shechem. 

Acknowledgement

I am very thankful for the opportunity to participate in this bible study held by the UM Korean Bible Study Group, and congratulate on finishing the 2019-20 year strong, especially in such a time as turbulent as this, exacerbated by covid-19 pandemic. I appreciate all the dedication shown by every member of this group. The reflection on this blog is the product of discussion, thoughts, meditation by this group, guided by the Holy Spirit. Thank you, all.