F O O T H O L D
READING
76 JOSHUA'S FINAL CHALLENGE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRAY Challenge me through
the Scriptures, Lord God.
----------------------------------------------------------------
READ Joshua 24:1-28.
----------------------------------------------------------------
THINK What is the sin above
all others that Joshua warned against?
----------------------------------------------------------------
FOCUS Joshua was about to
die (29). Addressing the assembled Israelites
he looked back over their
past, dealt with the present and looked
into the future.
THE PAST (1-13). God called
their ancestors (2,3), gave them
leaders (5,6) and provided
for their needs (13). Through all
their wanderings in the
desert God cared for them. Their homes
and their food were not the
result of their own work; they were
God's good gifts. And,
although it may not be quite so obvious,
that is still true today.
THE PRESENT (14-24). Joshua
challenged the Israelites to total
allegiance. They were to
'fear' God (14) - this does not mean
being 'afraid' in the
ordinary sense of the word, it does mean
respecting, putting first,
honouring, taking seriously. They were
also to 'serve' him (14) -
if we really belong to God, we will
want to serve him; to do
things for him, and for other people in
his name. But since God is
love, and desires his people to love
him, their devotion to him
must be freely given. 'Choose!' says
Joshua.
THE FUTURE (25-28). Joshua
encouraged the people to remain
faithful and gave them
practical reminders of their faith. What
were they (25-27)?
Finally he sent the people
away. Joshua had throughout his long
life involved his people in
the works of God. What remain must be
up to the individual - to
gain through faithfulness, or to lose
by disobedience and neglect.
The choice is theirs - and ours in
our time.
----------------------------------------------------------------
PRAY Tell God that you want
always to remain faithful to him. Ask for
grace to persist.
