As we come to the final chapter of the Book of Joshua, we are faced with a profound and personal question: “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Joshua 24 not only marks the conclusion of Israel’s journey into the Promised Land but also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of commitment in our faith. In today’s daily devotional, we will reflect on Allen’s past journal entries from 1995, 2004, and 2013, we can see how this pivotal chapter has resonated through the years, offering insight into the nature of godly leadership and personal choice. Join me as we explore Joshua’s final challenge, examine its implications through historical reflections, and consider the enduring call to choose whom we will serve in our own lives today. Read Joshua’s final instructions in the daily devotional on Joshua 23.
Joshua 24 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
Today, we conclude the Book of Joshua, Joshua 24. Choose this day whom you will serve. What is your choice? Please read or listen to Joshua 24.
As we conclude the Book of Joshua, we will look at my journals from 1995, 2004, and 2013 one last time.
Beginning in 1995, after Joshua 24 (NKJV), I wrote, “Remember God’s intervention and blessings along the way of life. Share it with others.” I quoted verse 13, “‘I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’ God can do anything, and He provides the way He wants.” Then I quoted verse 15, “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” I finished with, “Joshua challenges the people to really commit to serving God, referring to verses 14-24.”
In 2004, I read Joshua 23 and 24, and Judges 1 on the same day and wrote, “Joshua dies. He was a great leader. We don’t read about the rebellion they did while Moses led the nation. Yet, after Joshua, no successors were put in place by God.”
In 2013, I split Joshua 24 into two sections, over two different days. The first day, I read verses 1-13 and wrote, “Remember where you came from. Know what God has done in my past. Joshua is the mouthpiece of God, as Moses was. God said, ‘I took, I gave, I sent, I brought you out. Your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. I destroyed them before you, I delivered you. I gave them into your hand. I sent.’ Joshua reminded the people the Lord is active. He’s the one who led. He deserves to be worshiped and served. Everything they have, God gave them. Do I realize this?”
What Does Joshua 24 Verse 15 Say?
The second day, I finished Joshua 24:14 through the end and wrote, “What an ending! Joshua challenges the people one more time to choose this day whom you will serve. He leads by example, ‘But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord’ (v. 15). The people choose to serve the Lord and they do for years.”
“Joshua dies with the same title Moses died with, servant of the Lord, reserved for a few special people: Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Israel, and Joshua. This exemplifies a successful life. He was given a job to do by God, conquer and secure the Promised Land. He did so with the help of God. He never wavered from the Word of God and serving God Almighty. He died a servant to the Lord and left a legacy of God-following people. To God be the glory.”
What Is the Main Message of Joshua 24?
In the final chapter of the Book of Joshua, Joshua challenges the people to choose who they will serve going forward. He reminds them everything they have is because of God. He challenges them, “choose this day whom you will serve” (v. 15). As I said in one of my journals, he leads by example, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (v. 15). Thanks to the godly leadership of Joshua, the people also make the same choice, “we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God” (v. 18).
Verse 31 shows the result of godly leadership, “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua”. Joshua left a godly legacy.
What Is the Main Message of Joshua?
During the introduction of the Book of Joshua, I stated the theme of Joshua is Part Two of God’s grand work of redemption in the Old Testament. Part One was under the leadership of Moses, as God redeemed His people out of bondage in Egypt. Part Two, under the leadership of Joshua, is the completion of God’s promise to bring them into the Promised Land and give them rest.
In the Book of Joshua, we see the value of living according to the instructions God gave in Joshua 1. In verses 7 and 8, God said:
Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua did so. The people did so. And God blessed the nation of Israel.
What Is the Book of Joshua Trying to Tell Us?
Those instructions are for us today. It is a formula for success. Be “careful to do all the law Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it from the right hand or to the left and you will have good success wherever you go” (Josh. 1:7). Meditate on God’s Word day and night, “be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Josh. 1:8). We have that choice. Just like Joshua did, just like the nation of Israel did.
I close with the challenge Joshua gave the people of Israel, the same challenge for us today. In 24:15, Joshua said, “choose this day whom you will serve”. He says the same thing to us, choose this day whom we will serve. I have made that choice personally. I hope you have too. Like Joshua, I can say, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (v. 15). I hope that is your choice as well.
Prayer
Father, Thank You for the great Book of Joshua. Thank You for the lessons learned. Thank You for the encouragement to walk according to Your Word, to not veer to the right or to the left, to meditate in it day and night, that our way may be prosperous and successful. We see it in the Book of Joshua. May we see it in our own lives as we make that same commitment. Bless us and our households as we choose to serve You. Go with us as we go with You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
