The Decision Is Already Made

by Micky Galloway

In Joshua 24:15, Joshua challenged the people, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve.” He quickly punctuated that challenge with a strong declaration of his own, “but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.”

Judging from the response of the people, “Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods” (verse 16), they understood that Joshua had the leadership ability to not only lead their armies in battle, but to also lead his own household in devotion to God. That decision had been made long ago. About 40 years earlier we read of Joshua, the minister of Moses, as a “young man” in Exodus 33:11. He had demonstrated his trust in God when the ten spies brought back an evil report. “If Jehovah delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it unto us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not against Jehovah, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is removed from over them, and Jehovah is with us: fear them not” (Numbers 14:8-9). Many generations this side of Joshua, we cannot relinquish the spiritual decisions of our family to the government, the school, or even the church. It is an individual choice. How could Joshua speak so boldly about his house? This great leader of God’s people had planned and prepared his house for this day. He did not wait until that day to make a decision!

Joshua took the leadership in his household. In leading the family in religious activities, and in producing proper attitudes in the whole family, certain very deliberate and definite steps must be taken and some principles must be pursued steadfastly and aggressively.

First, spiritual values must prevail in every activity of the home. Moses had commanded, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). Fathers are commanded to, “provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). The Bible must be respected. Children must learn to read it, and parents must read it with the children. Their questions should be answered and their inquisitive minds should be encouraged to search for its truth.

Second, the heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, must be honored. Their names must be held in reverence and the parents must demonstrate love for God and for the Savior. Our view of God must never be casual. He is the creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1). He delivered his people from the hand of the Egyptians with wonders and signs (Exodus 7-14). Joshua, witness to these events, had also witnessed the power of God to cause the sun and the moon stand still as the Amorites were defeated in the conquering of the land (Joshua 10:12-14). God sent His Son to die and then raised Him from the dead (Matthew 28:5-6)! God is awesome! “He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome (reverend KJV) is His name” (Psalms 111:9 NASU). Let us glorify and sanctify His Holy and awesome name.

Third, children must learn from the parents to have due respect for the church. Too many times children hear their parents criticize the church. They hear mothers and fathers say, “The church is unfriendly” or “I don’t like the way they do things,” etc. Therefore, we cultivate an attitude of “us” and “them.” (And then those same parents wonder why their children do not want to “go to church.”) When we become a member of the church we are a part of something. We are a valuable member of the body. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ … For the body is not one member, but many” (I Corinthians 12:12-14). Let us work and function, each doing their part for the growth of the body.

Fourth, attendance at worship and Bible study, and active participation in those activities should be regular and steadfast. “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together …” (Hebrews 10:24-25). We not only come together to worship, but we NEED each other. The question, “Are we going today” should not even be asked. That decision should have already been made. When you commonly say you have a headache, a stomach ache, a toothache, etc., what does the young child learn? For your own good and for his good, go; never excuse yourself from going if you can possibly go, for the child will remember your excuses and imitate them. God gave us His Son! “But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Isn’t it proper that we worship Him and encourage others?

Joshua’s leadership did not always make him popular. When Joshua and Caleb pleaded with the people, “Only rebel not against Jehovah, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is removed from over them, and Jehovah is with us: fear them not,” the text tells us that “all the congregation bade stone them with stones” (Numbers 14:9-10). Jesus said to the disciples, “Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also” (John 15:20). Jesus said that “a man’s foes (shall be) they of his own household” (Matthew 10:36).

Joshua’s leadership was manifested in service. “As for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.” This the highest form of leadership. Joshua’s challenge was answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods … Nay; but we will serve Jehovah … Jehovah our God will we serve, and unto his voice will we hearken … And Israel served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of Jehovah, that he had wrought for Israel” (Joshua 24:16, 21, 24, 31). Joshua, “the servant of Jehovah, died, being a hundred and ten years old” (Judges 2:8). Unfortunately, after Joshua’s death and the death of those who had witnessed his service, “there arose another generation after them, that knew not Jehovah, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel. And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and served the Baalim” (Judges 2:10-11). The lesson of leadership through service is hard to learn. The disciples who wanted positions of leadership on the right hand and the left hand of Jesus were told, “whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28 NASU).

As far as Joshua was concerned, he could trust in God no matter what. His decision was already made. God is almighty and has proven Himself repeatedly. Joshua had great faith in God. He and his house were going to serve Jehovah!