Challenged To Obey
Joshua 24:19–24 (ESV) But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” 21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” 22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” 23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”
Now that is incredible. He really challenged them and they responded with obedience and faithfulness for Joshua's lifetime and the lifetime of those leaders who were with him.
Leadership Lesson: It is often NECESSARY and PROPER to sternly challenge God's people.
This is why you need to read through the Bible chapter by chapter. My nature would beg me to skip this story. What relevance is there here to the God of love and compassion for my liking? But the scriptures are not written for my "liking," they are written for my changing! So we come to a text like this and struggle because we need to hear a word for our own generation: To chose to serve the Lord is not a light-hearted matter. To follow Christ is not for the faint-hearted. To belong to God is a privilege and honor that carries a stern commitment to His plan, purposes, and prescriptions. This is what Joshua is unafraid to do even in old age - challenge people to a firm commitment to God.
I see pastors doing almost anything to avoid challenging God's people to change. I see preaching that caters to "God's dream for you" and how "nothing can stop you" and "everything will work out for you." But I do not hear many preachers emploring God's people to change, repent and turn from false idols and vain affections to serve the true and living God.
As a Pastor myself, I get the appeal of preaching for "itching ears". It is so much easier and comfortable. It requires very little effort. It can yield great Earthly reward and acclaim. But does it resonate with heaven? That is the question every preacher must ask concerning their work. If all men love you, there might be a problem.
Luke 6:26 (ESV) “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
Joshua must have smelt a sense of half-heartedness in their initial reply. So instead of backing off, he ramps up the intensity! He informs the people what God is like. He is "holy" and He is "jealous." I saw a rap star recently tweet how he wasn't ok with the "fear" of God since in his mind God is "love" and "love drives out fear" and so fearing God makes no sense. This is a man who is comfortable with half of God's nature. Yes, God is love. But His love is HOLY and JEALOUS over His people. He is totally committed to us. He desires total trust and commitment from us. This is the whole counsel of God and to avoid preaching it for fear of man reveals who one's real god is.
What I find most compelling here is Joshua's ability to challenge God's people well into his old age even now weakened by time. He is still strong in his spirit to preach and teach God's people with words that may not be comfortable but ultimately bring transformation and change. The testimony of his life is one of whole-hearted commitment regardless of what others did from the first day we hear of him in Exodus 17, to being one of two minority report spies in Numbers 13-14, to this last testament of his leadership. What an inspiring leader. What a man of God!
I have struggled with this text for a few days. Joshua seems very negative, almost convinced the people will not obey God. But what are the results? We find that in the next book.
Judges 2:7 (ESV) And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the LORD had done for Israel.
Now that is incredible. He really challenged them and they responded with obedience and faithfulness for Joshua's lifetime and the lifetime of those leaders who were with him.
Leadership Lesson: It is often NECESSARY and PROPER to sternly challenge God's people.
This is why you need to read through the Bible chapter by chapter. My nature would beg me to skip this story. What relevance is there here to the God of love and compassion for my liking? But the scriptures are not written for my "liking," they are written for my changing! So we come to a text like this and struggle because we need to hear a word for our own generation: To chose to serve the Lord is not a light-hearted matter. To follow Christ is not for the faint-hearted. To belong to God is a privilege and honor that carries a stern commitment to His plan, purposes, and prescriptions. This is what Joshua is unafraid to do even in old age - challenge people to a firm commitment to God.
I see pastors doing almost anything to avoid challenging God's people to change. I see preaching that caters to "God's dream for you" and how "nothing can stop you" and "everything will work out for you." But I do not hear many preachers emploring God's people to change, repent and turn from false idols and vain affections to serve the true and living God.
As a Pastor myself, I get the appeal of preaching for "itching ears". It is so much easier and comfortable. It requires very little effort. It can yield great Earthly reward and acclaim. But does it resonate with heaven? That is the question every preacher must ask concerning their work. If all men love you, there might be a problem.
Luke 6:26 (ESV) “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
Joshua must have smelt a sense of half-heartedness in their initial reply. So instead of backing off, he ramps up the intensity! He informs the people what God is like. He is "holy" and He is "jealous." I saw a rap star recently tweet how he wasn't ok with the "fear" of God since in his mind God is "love" and "love drives out fear" and so fearing God makes no sense. This is a man who is comfortable with half of God's nature. Yes, God is love. But His love is HOLY and JEALOUS over His people. He is totally committed to us. He desires total trust and commitment from us. This is the whole counsel of God and to avoid preaching it for fear of man reveals who one's real god is.
What I find most compelling here is Joshua's ability to challenge God's people well into his old age even now weakened by time. He is still strong in his spirit to preach and teach God's people with words that may not be comfortable but ultimately bring transformation and change. The testimony of his life is one of whole-hearted commitment regardless of what others did from the first day we hear of him in Exodus 17, to being one of two minority report spies in Numbers 13-14, to this last testament of his leadership. What an inspiring leader. What a man of God!
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