Trevor S. Ferguson
July 1, 2010
Joshua 24:14-15 (KJV)
14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye 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: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
In today’s text Joshua issues a challenge to Israel to serve the LORD, i.e. the Jehovah, the one God of the Old Testament. Some may ask however, why should we serve the Lord? A careful examination of Joshua’s address to Israel shows that Joshua deliberately presented an account of God’s dealings with the nation of Israel as a premise on which to issue his challenge. As I read the account in Joshua 24:1-15 (see below); I identified three factors that Joshua offers as reasons to serve the LORD. Let’s look briefly at each factor:
1. God’s ability to save
In verses 4-7 of chapter 24 Joshua recounts how God saved Israel, and brought them out of Egypt. While in Egypt the Israelites were slaves to Pharaoh and could not save themselves, but God sent Moses and brought them out of Egypt. Today the world we live in is a type of Egypt. In the world men are slaves to sin and under the control of the devil. But God has sent Jesus Christ who died for our sins, so that we can be saved. As the angel told Mary in Matthew 1:21 “… you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins”. Jesus himself affirms this when he says in Luke 19:10 “… for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost". God’s ability to save is therefore a prime reason for us to serve the LORD.
2. God’s ability to deliver
In verses 8-12 Joshua recounts how God delivered Israel from the Amorites, Moabites and other Canaanites. No opposition could stand before Israel as long as God was with them. Today, Jesus is our deliverer. We may face many challenges, obstacles and problems, but none of these can triumph over us when we put our trust in God. As the writer says: Tell me who can stand before us when we go in Jesus’ name … In the name of Jesus, we have the victory. God’s ability to deliver is another key reason to serve the LORD
3. God’s ability to bless
In verse 13 Joshua reminds Israel how God gave them land, cities, vineyards and olive yards for they had not labored. God had fulfilled his promises to Israel and blessed them abundantly so that by the end of Joshua’s leadership Israel was probably the most prosperous and respected nation in the region. One characteristic of God is that he loves to bless his people. In St. John chapter 10 we are told that Jesus came that we might have life and have life more abundantly. God’s desire is for his people to prosper. John states in 3rd John 1:2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”. God has the ability to bless and desires to bless us. This is indeed a good reason to serve the LORD.
Application
God is mighty to save, mighty to deliver and ready to bless. If you have not yet started to serve him or if you have not yet known him in his fullness today is an excellent day to start. As you reflect on the challenge issued by Joshua, make him your choice today!!
Joshua 24:1-15 (KJV)
1 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. 3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. 4 And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. 5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out. 6 And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea. 7 And when they cried unto the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season. 8 And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you. 9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you: 10 But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand. 11 And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand. 12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow. 13 And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat. 14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye 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: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
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I have seen a number of persons serving God diligently, present at most services, praying regularly and fervently, ministering to the needs of others, yet they never seem able to overcome their financial dilemma. Why is this? is this God's way of keeping them humble? Is it that they have not enlarged their tent or taken the limits off God and themselves? Wont their standard of living cause others to question the insights you have given us from the Word?
ReplyDeleteDoes serving God guarantee worldly prosperity?
ReplyDeleteThe short answer to this question is NO! But then comes all the other questions: Why? Why not? Does it pay to put all that effort into serving God?
Understanding this requires that we separate ourselves from the common world view of prosperity.
Paul instructs us that if we have food and clothing we should be content! God does promise that he will supply all or needs. So the person who is serving God should have adequate food, clothing and a place to live. This may not be good enough by the world's standards but this is the the base that God guarantees. With these basic / physiological needs met we should be content! More is possible and I would say quite likely, but it is not guaranteed. We note that many of God's leading servants had great wealth, e.g. Job and Abraham, but many others did not. John the Baptist, for example, lived in the desert with clothing made of camel's hair and ate locust and wild honey. He had food, clothing and a place to live! We have no indication that he was unhappy! Elijah while in the desert was fed by ravens and then by a widow. Again he had food clothing and a place to live! By and large he was happy.
The question we should then ask is whether the person who is serving God but lacks earthly goods is happy and content in their situation. The second question is whether they are walking in purpose and using the things that God had provided for them. God has promised to provide our basic needs. The rest is dependent on our circumstances and our efforts. If we make use of all the opportunities God sends our way we will have good success. Sometimes our circumstances may make this difficult, but God will bless our efforts.
If persons however are content with food, shelter and clothing, let us not seek to apply the world's standards and begin to think that God is not blessing them. Some of these persons have far greater peace that many with wealth!