As For Me And My House – Joshua’s Last Words

Feature 2 – April 2023 – Grace & Truth Magazine

“As For Me And My House …”
Joshua’s Last Words

Many Christian homes have plaques with the verse “But as for me and my house, we will serve the L ORD ” (Josh. 24:15 NKJV ). Those plaques only quote part of the verse, however. The larger context is Joshua’s farewell address to Israel and his actual last words.

Based on his testimony, leadership, faithfulness and experiences, he commanded their attention. He was Moses’ servant, who at one point as a young man did not depart from the tabernacle (Ex. 33:11). Joshua continued in his service for the LORD until his old age: “Now it came to pass, a long time after the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in age” (Josh. 23:1).

It was at this stage in his life that he gathered Israel to speak to them before his death. He expressed four profound points in Joshua 24 and received a good response from Israel. Joshua:

1. Gave a blessed summary of God’s faithfulness to them as a nation, from their beginning to the end of Joshua’s life.
2. Charged them to serve the LORD consistently, without falling into idolatry.
3. Emphasized his personal commitment for him and his household to serve the LORD.
4. Challenged them as to God’s holiness and their inability to serve Him without a true commitment of heart and conscience.

The powerful speech from Israel’s Spirit-filled leader led them to renew the covenant with God.

The last words of any dying person are almost always remembered. We will do well to remember Joshua’s last words and incorporate those lessons into our Christian lives.

The Blessed Summary Of God’s Faithfulness
Joshua 24:1-13 delineates a clear and powerful summary of God’s faithfulness to Israel. Joshua began with the fact that Terah, Abraham’s father, was an idolater (v.2). Nevertheless, God called Abram, who became the progenitor, or father, of His earthly people Israel. The patriarchs are mentioned because God had promised Abraham a seed that would inherit the Promised Land.

Joshua highlighted God’s faithfulness in His bringing Israel out of their bondage in Egypt. He brought them through the Red Sea and drowned the Egyptians who pursued them. The land of the Amorites was given to Israel. God protected the people from the cursing of Balaam and turned it into a blessing. He also provided victory over Jericho and the other six nations in the land. The history was undoubtedly known, but Joshua emphasized God’s faithfulness and power, for the events he mentioned were miraculous! The generation he brought into the land by God’s grace had heard about those glorious events. Joshua had experienced them. The rehearsal of God’s amazing power in calling out a people to Himself, protecting and bringing them to the Promised Land, was the first reason why they should serve Him.

God remains faithful to His people today. A brother or sister in the Lord can testify of God’s faithfulness, and it does not have to be his or her last words. Like Joshua, we can testify to all that we have in Christ: salvation (Jn. 3:16), redemption (1 Pet. 1:18-19), justification (Rom. 5:1), sanctification (1 Cor. 1:2), eternal life (1 Jn. 5:13), the priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2:5-9) and His bringing us into His presence forever (1 Th. 4:13-18) – to name a few.

Furthermore, the believer can testify of God’s faithfulness to him personally. When shared, those experiences become encouraging to all the believers who hear the reports, stirring them to go on for Christ. They are a rallying call, as Joshua rallied Israel to God’s awesome ways. The same awesome God has kept the Church for nearly 2,000 years. All of who God is and what He has done for us in Christ bolsters us.

The Charge To Committed Service
Joshua directly charged the people in Joshua 24:14. It was crucial: “Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!”

This charge has very important sections, although the charge is one directive, or instruction. “Now therefore” – based on all of God’s faithfulness, love and miraculous power – reverence Him. Serve Him from a sincere and pure heart. Serve Him according to truth, which at that time meant His truth given to the nation of Israel in terms of the law. Apparently, some had slipped back into idolatry. The people were to put away those false gods and serve the LORD only.

We are also charged as Christians to serve the Lord. Our “therefore” is based on all that Christ has done and on all that we have in Him. We should gladly serve the Lord. Our appreciation of Him will keep us from all idols. We have so much for which to be thankful!

The saints in Thessalonica certainly understood what it meant to live exclusively for the Lord. They lived an exemplary life: “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Th. 1:9-10). Their past, present and future were cited. The idols were behind them; the believers were now engaged in joyful service. They had the blessed hope of the Lord’s return (see Ti. 2:13). We should live in the exact manner of the Thessalonians.

Joshua’s Personal Exercise
Joshua’s entire life was one of service. He lived the charge that he had given to the children of Israel: “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 ye dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh. 24:15). Although this old servant was giving his final address, he spoke of him and his house serving the LORD continually. Not much is given about his family, but they were committed servants like Joshua. He served the LORD all of his 110 years (v.29). Indeed, he kept the charge and was an example before them.

The last words of an aged, godly parent, saint or full-time servant of the Lord would redound, or overflow, to God’s glory and the blessing of the audience if the life was commensurate with or a display of the charge. No believer is perfect; only our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is perfect. He was the One who glorified God on the earth and finished the work God had given Him to do (Jn. 17:4). Yet a consistent Christian life counts a whole lot.

The apostle Paul could easily reference his life as a testimony to Timothy, “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me” (2 Tim. 3:10-11). The “lived” life is as important, or more so, as the last words. Joshua’s testimony was clear; Paul’s testimony was evident to Timothy and others. Will our Christian lives align with our last words if the Lord allows such a departure?

Israel’s Response And Joshua’s Challenge
The response from Israel was favorable. The children of Israel responded with gratitude, and they briefly reiterated Joshua’s summary in Joshua 24:16-18. Their hearts were touched. When the people of God reflect on God’s faithfulness and omnipotence, all we can do is respond in worship and adoration.

The people of Israel then committed themselves to God afresh, but Joshua wanted more. He wanted to make sure their commitment was real, so he probed their consciences: “But Joshua said to the people, ‘You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good’” (vv.19-20). Their consciences were touched. Israel insisted that they would serve the LORD, so Joshua renewed the covenant with the people and sent them home (vv.24-28).

Although Joshua was dealing with their hearts, he used tangible things (vv.25-26):

• This occurred in “Shechem.”
• He wrote the words in “the Book of the Law of God.”
• “A large stone” was set up “under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.”

Similarly, the last words to believers are often tangible: read God’s Word daily, pray without ceasing, gather with the Lord’s people, live in the power of the Holy Spirit, keep short accounts, exercise the gifts given, serve the Lord with gladness, and look with anticipation for the Lord’s soon return. May we glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in these spiritual and tangible ways.

Conclusion
It is truly a joy to see those plaques – “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” – in the homes of Christians. It is a small yet significant part of Joshua’s last words, but Joshua’s life was much more than that statement. He was a committed servant of the LORD. He was Moses’ attendant and then Israel’s leader, who led them into the Promised Land. He was a general. He divided the land to the tribes as instructed by God. He was a prayer warrior. And, as a man, he failed in his dealings with the Gibeonites. Overall, he was an example before Israel.

Joshua’s last word to the people of Israel resonated; it made a difference in their lives. May our lives, too, glorify God and make a difference in the lives of other Christians. Our lives should be testimonies to unbelievers. If God gives us last words at the end of our earthly service, may they make a significant impact on the lives of believers like Joshua’s last words did for Israel!

By Albert Stuart

He glorified Thee on the earth; Thy work by Him was done; And Thou, who knewest all His worth, Didst glorify Thy Son.
Now crowned and seated on Thy throne, He is Thy joy and rest; And we who are through grace Thine own In Him are fully blest. —Anonymous (from “Father,
How Precious Unto Thee”)