"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15; NKJV)
Joshua "wholly followed the LORD" from Egypt to the promised land (Numbers 32:12). After all they had seen with their own eyes from Egypt to the promised land, the Israelites continued to cling to their idols. Joshua challenges them to choose Jehovah once and for all.
The rest of the story is one of heartbreak for Jehovah. His people will continue to be plagued by idolatry until they return to the promised land from the Babylonian captivity. Joshua was correct when he said, "You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God" (Joshua 24:19; NKJV). No matter what others do, you and your family serve the LORD and the LORD only.
Jason Cicero
