The Book of Joshua opens with a new leader being handed a seemingly impossible task—to lead the nation in taking over the land. It closes with the same leader, now very old, reviewing how his mandate has been fulfilled. But he goes on to challenge his people to make the commitment essential to a continuation of victory and blessing.

1. What challenges to exclusive allegiance to the Lord had the Israelite's ancestors and parents faced? How about the generation Joshua was addressing?


2. What challenges to single-hearted allegiance to God do we face in our society?


3. How did Joshua lead by example (v. 15)?


4. Why was it urgent for the people to make a conscious choice about their loyalties (vv. 19-20)?


5. Have you taken a definite stand for the Lord?


6. What gets in the way of your worshiping God (v. 23)—greed, wrong priorities, jealousies, prejudices, etc.? Are you prepared to completely remove these from your life?


7. The commitment of the people sounded solid (v. 24) and held for a time (v. 31). But the next generation reverted to idols. How can you promote persevering allegiance for yourself and your family?

Ask God for the staying power to remain single-mindedly faithful to Him.

¹Then Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, including their elders, leaders, judges, and officers. So they came and presented themselves to God.

¹⁴"So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. ¹⁵But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." ¹⁶The people replied, "We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods.

¹⁷For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. ¹⁸It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God." ¹⁹Then Joshua warned the people, "You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.

²⁰If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you." ²¹But the people answered Joshua, "No, we will serve the Lord!" ²²"You are a witness to your own decision," Joshua said. "You have chosen to serve the Lord." "Yes," they replied, "we are witnesses to what we have said."

²³"All right then," Joshua said, "destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel." ²⁴The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone." ²⁵So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the Lord.

²⁶Joshua recorded these things in the Book of God's Instructions. As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the terebinth tree beside the Tabernacle of the Lord. ²⁷Joshua said to all the people, "This stone has heard everything the Lord said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God." ²⁸Then Joshua sent all the people away to their own homelands.

²⁹After this, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. ³⁰They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. ³¹The people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him—those who had personally experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel.

Prayer for the Week

Give me the resolve and strength, Lord, to take a definite stand for You and consistently live it out.

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