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Joshua 24:1-27 (NLT)

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¹ Then Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, including their elders, leaders, judges, and officers. So they came and presented themselves to God. ² Joshua said to the people, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River, and they worshiped other gods. ³ But I took your ancestor Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him into the land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants through his son Isaac. ⁴ To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir, while Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. ⁵ "Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I brought terrible plagues on Egypt; and afterward I brought you out as a free people. ⁶ But when your ancestors arrived at the Red Sea, the Egyptians chased after you with chariots and charioteers. ⁷ When your ancestors cried out to the Lord, I put darkness between you and the Egyptians. I brought the sea crashing down on the Egyptians, drowning them. With your very own eyes you saw what I did. Then you lived in the wilderness for many years. ⁸ "Finally, I brought you into the land of the Amorites on the east side of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I destroyed them before you. I gave you victory over them, and you took possession of their land. ⁹ Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, started a war against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to curse you, ¹⁰ but I would not listen to him. Instead, I made Balaam bless you, and so I rescued you from Balak. ¹¹ "When you crossed the Jordan River and came to Jericho, the men of Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I gave you victory over them. ¹² And I sent terror ahead of you to drive out the two kings of the Amorites. It was not your swords or bows that brought you victory. ^{13 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. ¹⁵ But 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." ¹⁶ The people replied, "We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. ¹⁷ For 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. ¹⁸ It 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." ¹⁹ Then 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. ²⁰ If 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." ²¹ But 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." ²⁴ The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone." ²⁵ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the Lord. ²⁶ Joshua 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. ²⁷ Joshua 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."


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 14) Faith / Doubt / Worry - Fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness
(v. 14) Fear - Fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness
(v. 14) Serving / Servants - Fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness
(v. 15) Serving / Servants - If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose whom you will serve

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 14) Old Testament - Counting the Cost (2011-04-06)
(v. 14) Consistent Life (2015-12-11)
(v. 15) Raising Awesome Kids - Strength and Conviction (part 1) (2008-11-21)
(v. 15) Old Testament - Counting the Cost (2011-04-06)
(v. 15) Mind Change - Mood (2011-11-05)

This passage is referenced in the following study note(s):
(v. 14) Sermon: Heart of Service (Being a Servant) (2000-01-01)
(v. 15) Sermon: Heart of Service (Being a Servant) (2000-01-01)

Definition(s):
Abraham (Ab-ra-ham): father of a great multitude
Abraham (Ehb-ra-ham): father of a great multitude
Balaam (Beh-lamm): the ancient of the people; the destruction of the
Balak (Behlak): who lays waste or destroys
Beor (Be-ohr): burning; foolish; mad
Beor (Be-or): burning; foolish; mad
Esau (Ee-saw): he that acts or finishes
Euphrates (Eu-freh-tees): that makes fruitful
Isaac (Eye-zakk): laughter
Israel (Iz-rehl): who prevails with God
Israel (Is-ra-el): who prevails with God
Jacob (Jeh-kobb): that supplants, undermines; the heel
Jericho (Jer-ih-koh): his moon; his month; his sweet smell
Jordan (Jor-dan): the river of judgment
Joshua (Josh-oo-a): a savior; a deliverer
Joshua (Yesh-oo-a): a savior; a deliverer
Moses (Moh-ziz): taken out; drawn forth
Amorites (Am-or-ights):
Put (Poot):
So (Soh):