Jul 13, 2018
Will you remain faithful? That was what Joshua wanted to know. As he tried to prepare the people of Israel for his eventual death and the leadership vacuum it would leave, he called them to serve God faithfully. And the people seemed to offer their enthusiastic agreement to do just that. They appeared to be sincere. Their declarations of allegiance came across as legitimate and heartfelt and, yet, Joshua seemed to recognize that there was something missing. He was aware that the people did not have what it took to keep the commitments they were making. In Joshua 24:14-28, the God-appointed leader of Israel is trying to prepare them for the future, by calling them to a wholehearted, unwavering commitment to God. The key to their future blessing by God is tied directly to their present faithfulness to God. Before he passed from the scene, Joshua wanted to make sure the people took their relationship with God seriously and his call to faithfulness literally.