“…We will serve the Lord.” This quote from Joshua 24:15 is only part of Joshua’s admonition to stay focused on who God is.
As a young student of the Bible, I could not understand how Israel could get caught up worshipping other gods. I’d seen pictures of Baal, Dagon, Asherah, Moloch and others and wondered how a nation who had been delivered from slavery fall for worshipping a pagan statue or carving? How naïve I was. I didn’t ask about the gods behind the statues and images Joshua and others were referring to.
Egypt had as many as 40 gods that were feared and/or worshipped. But they weren’t just images— they represented many things. Amon was the god of the air. Thoth was the god of writing and wisdom. Anubis was the god of the dead, Hathor the goddess of motherhood and fertility, Ptah was the god of craftsmen and builders, and on it goes. There were economic gods, commerce gods, builder gods, weather gods, hunter gods, gods of the underworld, gods of floods, gods of violence, gods of health and wealth. The many gods were there to cover all aspects of life. Imagine the surprise when Israel was told there is only one God and he was to be worshipped alone.
As an adult, I’ve travelled to India, Bangladesh and Nepal and I’ve seen that the practice of worshipping or honoring many gods has not changed among some religions. I marvel how the practice has continued and wonder why. Then I come home to America and realize it is much the same here. In this country we may not have a lot of statues or images, but we do have a lot of things that we pay more attention to than God. Let me share some examples.
We may not have a god of economics, but we have people making big decisions solely on the market. I’ve heard people declare they want this person or that person to be president because of how their retirement portfolio is being affected. This is just one example. This is what Joshua was referring to when he talked to the Israelites. He reminded them of all the things God had done for them in the previous verses of Joshua 24.
- I took your father Abraham and led him. I gave him Isaac, and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau.
- I sent Moses and Aaron to Egypt to bring you out.
- I led you through the Red Sea and drowned those pursuing you.
- I gave you the land of the Amorites, the Moabites, the Canaanites, and many others.
- I took you over the Jordon and “I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and towns that you had not built… you eat the fruit of vineyards and oliveyards that you did not plant.”
Today we might say things a bit differently. Today Joshua might remind us that Jesus is the one who forgives us. He is the one who redeems us and reconciled us to the Father. He is the one who sanctifies us and calls us his brothers and sisters. He is the one who rescued us from ourselves. He is the one who saves us and takes us to the throne of God. He is the one who invites us to participate in the communion he shares with the Father and the Spirit. He is the one who invites us to participate in bringing many sons and daughters to glory.
So Joshua might address you and me a bit differently. Allow me to paraphrase verses 14-15:
Now therefore, love and live in the presence of this God. Put your focus on him and acknowledge who he is and who you are in him. He already is the center of the center, focus on him as your center. Don’t allow the gods of economics, health, social injustice, possessions, pride and ego, accomplishments, naturalism or self to draw you away from him. Revere and serve our one true God. Join with me and my house, and together, let’s participate with Jesus in what he is doing as we live and share the good news that he is our God.
As I continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray I recognize all the false gods that can cause me to lose sight of Jesus, who he is, what he is doing, and what he has invited me to participate in. It’s a prayer I encourage all to join.
This world will always have problems, and Jesus is not caught off guard with them. He asks us to remain focused on the truth that he has been and always will be in control. In GCI we continue to echo Joshua’s statement. “As for us and our denomination, we will serve the Lord.”
Still learning to follow him,
Rick Shallenberger
Thanks Rick, Good stuff to reflect on.
Excellent and timely, thanks Rick!
In our “enlightened” western culture we have our own distinctive pantheon of gods. Above all, we “worship” the self. Judeo-Christian tradition is often derided as a vestige of ignorant superstition. Sadly, blatant individualism and self-determination have become “sacred cows” and the object of misplaced “reverence”.
Merci pour ce message de verite
Thank you, Rick! You are reminding us of the many gods we put ahead of Our One True God! Things and attitudes which separate us from who we truly are in Christ! May The Triune God we are getting to know more and more as we stick to The Center of The Center, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!
Thanks for the great article and reminder.
Rick,
I am currently reading “The Prophet” by Francine Rivers and your message directly correlates to what I am reading in the book. We have set up idols for ourselves all over the land and God is calling us to tear down these idols and worship him and him alone. Thank you for such a good and timely message.
Good reminders Rick! I love that cute house at the top of the article. Can’t wait till the leaves start changing and falling off around here in this furnace we call Florida.
A very, timely article, Rick. In this world of major distractions like, economy, commerce, pandemic, flagging foreign policy, self- preservation , “who can do the better job” if elected, etc. weigh down upon us, we have a guaranteed certainty only, in one source and that is God (Jesus Christ) in a relationship with Him. Being “God preserved” is a must and a good one at that !
Thanks Rick! We do need this reminder as it is so easy to get sidetracked into all the time consumers surrounding us. The gods are many and they have a way of stealing our attention if we don’t stay focused.
Thanks. It’s timely.
Thank you for the timely message. As we west coast brethren struggle to escape fire and smoke we are reminded who gives us the breath of life.
Thank you for reminding us to first of all to stay focused on the Lord!