Before Joshua’s death he had some parting words for the people of Israel. He gathered them all together and walked them through the faithfulness of God.⠀
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Joshua reminded them that God had parted the Red Sea, destroyed the Amorites, delivered them from the ill will of Balak, and fought and defeated the Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites.⠀He reminded them that after God destroyed their enemies, He made provisions for them. Joshua 24:13 reads, “I have given you a land for which you didn’t labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plan.”⠀
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This is the goodness of the Lord!
Can you imagine receiving a month’s worth of wages that you didn’t work for? Or failing to pay your rent, but not receiving an eviction notice? Free groceries anyone?
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That’s how good the people of Israel had it, and yet when Joshua utters the famous ‘as for me and my house’ phrase, the people of Israel don’t seem completely convinced. They seem to want to serve both God and foreign gods, because they respond by saying, ‘we also will serve the Lord.” (v18). It would take further urging from Joshua in order for them to commit to discard their foreign gods (v23).⠀
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So I ask you, dear Christian, what other gods are you serving today? Are you consulting psychics, getting palm readings, using tarot cards, reading horoscopes, casting spells, pouring libations, saying incantations, practicing witchcraft, voodoo, obeah, black magic or white magic?
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The Lord is holy and will not tolerate you serving other gods and dabbling with the occult or sorcery. Borrowing Joshua’s words, I implore you to “put away the foreign gods which are among you and incline your heart to the Lord God” because “He is a holy God, He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He had done you good.” (Joshua 24:19-20) ⠀
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Choose whom you will serve.⠀
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Read: Joshua 24⠀
