And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (And Israel said,) …“We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.”…But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord…” Joshua 24:15, 18b, 19a
An Emotional High
Joshua is one hundred and ten years old and he is about to die, but before he does, he gives his farewell address to the nation of Israel—likely one of the most powerful speeches ever given in recorded history.
“…Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
I can almost hear the people cheering and countering back, “We will serve God!” over and over again.
What happens next is surprising. Joshua does not say, “That’s what I’m talking about people—give me an amen!” but rather stifles the crown with a stern admonishment.
“You cannot serve the Lord…”
What?!?
Joshua knew that the worshiping of false idols was going on behind closed doors and that these Jews were merely emotionally pumped up by his commanding speech. He also knew that there eyes were blind to what they were doing and what they were now saying. Yes, they were fired up for the One true and Living God, but they secretly maintained idols falsely believing it was acceptable to the Lord.
How Could This Be
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols… Ezekiel 14:2-4
What the Lord spoke to Ezekiel (and apparently Joshua too), is that when a person harbors a false idol, He does not entertain their prayers. So while these people might have proclaimed, “But God has given me a peace about it,” the Lord is saying, “That’s not me talking, that’s their idol talking.
That Should Give Us Pause
When was the last time we said, “But God has given me a peace about what I watch on TV,’ or the ‘indulgence of alcohol,’ or ‘my sexual preferences,’ ” or whatever.
God is saying, “That is not Me. I would never give you a peace about those things.”
This is the error of Israel (in that day) and it is often our error today. It didn’t last very long, but nevertheless, Israel repented and put away their false idols. We must do the same.
Next time you utter, “God has given me a peace…” about something, consider who might be doing the talking.
He Dwells -- The B'log in My Eye 