Year 7, Day 209: Joshua 24

Theological Commentary: Click Here

When I study Joshua 24, it is so tempting to focus on the iconic verse in this chapter.  “Choose this day…”  However, I’ve focused on that verse several times already.  Instead, I’m going to look at the buildup to that verse.

From yesterday, we know that Joshua is about to die.  He’s gathered the tribes to make sure that they hear his goodbye, hear his words of encouragement, and hear his challenge.  This is a chapter where a leader is saying goodbye.  It’s bittersweet.

Part of the bittersweet nature is the sweetness from God’s faithfulness.  All this year we’ve read the verses that Joshua summarizes.  We’ve seen God’s faithfulness.  We’ve watched Him, as Joshua describes here, defeat the enemies of those He favors.  God fights for them.  They are great, God is.  They aren’t deserving, God is gracious.  The sweet part about this chapter is realizing that the God we worship and serve is great and He desires to bestow His blessing upon us.

Then we get to the bitter part of this chapter is Joshua 24:19.  As often as we hear Joshua 24:15 quoted, we don’t hear much about Joshua 24:19.  Joshua is honest with the people.  He tells them, “You are not able to serve the Lord.”  That’s honesty right there.

As we look at this verse, though, we need to look at it honestly.  Joshua doesn’t say, “You can’t do it,” and then walk away.  He says “You can’t do it,” and then promptly holds the people accountable.  Joshua knows that discipleship comes from truth.  Joshua doesn’t sugar-coat the message.  He says, “You can’t do it,” realizes the truth of what he says, and then helps the people go forward anyways.  He welcomes the people into relationship with God in spite of the truth that they cannot do it.

This brings us full circle.  Whether or not I can be totally obedient to God is irrelevant to my relationship with Him.  God saves based on His glory.  He doesn’t save only those who are worthy.  He saves the sinner.  He saves the guilty.  We started this chapter with the discussion that God saves because He is righteous, not because we are.  We must start with the truth that we are not worthy and we are not capable.  That shouldn’t stop us from going forward.  Instead, it should propel us forward in truth.

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