by:
09/06/2025
0
“Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord” (24:14). Joshua knew that the Israelites would not only be tempted by the “new” idols of Canaan; they also faced the temptation of serving the old gods of their own ancestors. This included the false gods of Abraham’s family from “beyond the Euphrates” (v2) as well as the gods of Egypt (v14). Among many competing options, the choice to serve the one true God always required steadfast faith and courage.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (v15). Every generation and every society have their own idols. We are called to “put away” whatever competes with Christ in order to serve Him whole-heartedly.