Last Words of Joshua
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covenant of the Lord, ... then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled
against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which
He hath given unto you.”
In all His dealings with His creatures, God has maintained the
principles of righteousness by revealing sin in its true character—by
demonstrating that its sure result is misery and death. The uncondi-
tional pardon of sin never has been, and never will be. Such pardon
would fill the unfallen universe with consternation. God has faithfully
pointed out the results of sin, and if these warnings were not true, how
could we be sure that His promises would be fulfilled?
Before the death of Joshua the heads and representatives of the
tribes again assembled at Schechem. No spot in all the land possessed
so many sacred associations. Here were the mountains Ebal and
Gerizim, the silent witnesses of those vows which now, in the presence
of their dying leader, they had assembled to renew. God had given
them a land for which they did not labor, and cities which they built
not, vineyards and oliveyards which they planted not. Joshua reviewed
once more the history of Israel, recounting the wonderful works of
God, that all might have a sense of His love and mercy and might serve
Him “in sincerity and in truth.”
By Joshua’s direction the ark had been brought from Shiloh. This
symbol of God’s presence would deepen the impression he wished to
make upon the people. After presenting the goodness of God toward
Israel, he called upon them to choose whom they would serve. The
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worship of idols was still to some extent secretly practiced, and Joshua
endeavored now to bring them to a decision that should banish this
sin from Israel. “If it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah,” he said,
“choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua desired to lead
them to serve God, not by compulsion, but willingly. To engage in
His service merely from hope of reward or fear of punishment would
avail nothing. Open apostasy would not be more offensive to God than
hypocrisy and mere formal worship.
The Importance of Right Choice
The aged leader urged the people to consider what he had set
before them. If it seemed evil to serve Jehovah, the source of power,
the fountain of blessing, let them that day choose whom they would