Years ago, I used to have the bible verse Joshua 24:15 hanging on my wall. As I was reading my Bible study the other day I came across this passage again. I wish I still had that picture because on it, Joshua, the leader of Israelites says this, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
If you are unfamiliar with this passage, take a few minutes to read Joshua 24. It takes place at the end of Joshua’s life and he does something many great leaders do before they leave office or prepare to pass away, Joshua gave one final speech. In it, he really challenged them to make a decision on what they are going to do with God once he is gone.
See, the Israelites have had a history of following God and then turning away. When things were good for the Israelites, they forgot about God and turned away. Yet, when things got bad, they turned back to Him. So Joshua challenged them to either follow God, with all they have, or turn away completely. But then he concluded by saying, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”. He was a leader of people to the very end.
This kind of leadership where Joshua stood up for God in his life made a profound impact on the Israelites as they choose to follow God saying in verse 16, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods”!
A few different things stood out to me in this story:
- The Leadership of Joshua to call the Israelites out for their turning away from God.
- How I can be like the Israelites…forgetting God when things are going great, yet immediately turning to Him when things go bad.
- How faithful God has always been to Israel despite their unfaithfulness.
What stands out to you all about this passage? Share below.
-Tom