Joshua 24:14-28 | The Way of Scripture

Joshua 24:14-28

Why is “we will serve the Lord” more than a reassuring slogan?

Berean Standard Bible

14 Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” 16 The people replied, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us throughout our journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God!” 19 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 rebellion or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.” 21 “No!” replied the people. “We will serve the LORD!” 22 Then Joshua told them, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” “We are witnesses!” they said. 23 “Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 24 So the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey His voice.” 25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he established for them a statute and ordinance. 26 Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was near the sanctuary of the LORD. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you if you ever deny your God.” 28 Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.

What is the context?

Joshua calls the people to fear the Lord, serve sincerely, and put away the gods of their ancestors. He declares the allegiance of his own household and challenges the people to decide whom they will serve.

The people answer by recalling the Lord’s deliverance and protection. Joshua then confronts their easy confidence: the Lord is holy and jealous, and abandoning Him for other gods will bring judgment even after His goodness to them.

They insist on serving Him, accept that they are witnesses against themselves, and are told to remove the foreign gods and turn their hearts toward Him. Their declaration must therefore become action rather than coexist with continuing idolatry.

Joshua makes the covenant, records the words, and sets up a large stone as a witness. The people return to their inheritances with an enduring reminder of the commitment. His household declaration does not state that another person’s faith can be substituted by the head of a family.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley understands the warning that they cannot serve as confronting the difficulty and seriousness of their pledge, rather than forbidding sincere obedience. The Cambridge commentary similarly reads it as checking hasty confidence in light of God’s holiness. The warning must not be detached from its stated condition of forsaking Him and used to claim He can never forgive a repentant person.

Both Wesley and the Cambridge commentary understand the stone’s hearing as a figure for enduring witness and remembrance. It is not presented as a deity to be worshipped. The chapter calls for allegiance and accountability rather than merely displaying a sentence about family religion.

Where does this fit in God's plan?

1 Thessalonians 1:8–10 describes turning from idols to serve the living and true God and waiting for His risen Son, Jesus, who delivers from coming wrath. This develops the same biblical theme of a changed allegiance, now explicitly centered on the hope announced in Christ. It is not a direct quotation of Joshua’s household declaration.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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