Joshua Chp 24
What comes to mind here after reading this chapter of Joshua is George Santayana's quote "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it".
Here Joshua is near death and he speaks to the Israelites for the last time, retelling a brief history of how God delivered the Jews to the promised land.
For ourselves, it is important to remember the past to recall how we have sinned yet God forgives, delivers and blesses us. It also provides an opportunity for us to reaffirm our faith as Joshua does here by challenging the Israelites to reaffirm the covenant and faith they have with God.
19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”
21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the LORD.”
22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.”
“Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.
23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.”
25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws.
My Prayer: Lord, I KNOW you have blessed me and delivered me from sin and I am truly thankful. Yet I know that you desire more from me. Forgive me for my disobedience and laziness and help me draw nearer to you, love you more, desire you more, follow you and obey you.
