Pursuit #2: Make Right Choice

Text: Joshua 24:14-15 choose you this day whom ye will serve; 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. Verse 14 begins with the word “therefore”, so we look back to see what it is ‘there-for’! Beginning in chapter 23 is the first of two farewell addresses by Joshua, speaking to the leadership of Israel. He said to them, “I am an old man now, and I have seen all that the Lord your God has done for you during my lifetime. He has fought for you against your enemies and has given you their land. He goes on to give them the exact geographical locations, promising to drive out all the people living there now, and you will live there instead, just as he has promised you. Vs 6 But be very sure to follow all the instructions written in the book of the laws of Moses, do not deviate from them the least little bit. Stay true and obedient to the instruction of God. Be sure tha you do not mix with the heathen people that still remain in the land; do not even mention the names of their gods, much less swear by them or worship them. Joshua was very firm in his instruction to Israel to stay true to God and follow Him. Be careful to follow His every instruction. IF YOU DON’T, AND IF you begin to intermarry with the nations around you, then know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no longer chase those nations from your land. They will be a snare and a trap to you, a pain in your side and a thorn in your eyes, and you will disappear from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.