Joshua 23–24
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
— Joshua 24:15
🕊️ The Final Charge of a Faithful Leader
After years of conquest, division of the land, and establishment of Israel in Canaan, the story of Joshua draws to a close. He is now an old man. The warrior-leader who marched around Jericho, stood firm at Ai, and led the tribes with strength is preparing to speak his final words. But Joshua does not simply drift into the twilight of life. He finishes with passion, clarity, and purpose.
Joshua gathers the leaders of Israel — elders, heads, judges, and officers — and gives them a charge for the future.
These last two chapters, Joshua 23 and 24, are not only the end of a book; they are the handing over of a legacy. What kind of people would Israel be without Joshua? Would they follow the Lord wholeheartedly, or would they fall into the idolatry that surrounded them?
📜 Chapter 23 – A Solemn Warning to Stay Faithful
Joshua opens with a review of God’s faithfulness. In Joshua 23:3, he reminds the people:
“You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you.”
Joshua wants them to know the victories weren’t their doing — they were God’s. Every inch of land, every city conquered, every battle won, every enemy displaced — it was the hand of God.
And yet, despite all that God had done, Joshua sees the danger ahead. The temptation isn’t another battle. The temptation is blending in.
The great threat to Israel’s future wasn’t warfare — it was compromise.
He warns:
“If you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations… and make marriages with them… know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you.”
— Joshua 23:12–13
Holiness must be maintained. Faithfulness must be chosen daily.
Joshua urges them to “be very strong to keep and do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses” (v. 6). These are echoes of the words God spoke to him at the very beginning of his leadership (Joshua 1:7–8).
In his final days, Joshua becomes not only a leader, but a prophet — pointing forward to what Israel would become if they forgot their covenant. And tragically, that’s exactly what would unfold in the book of Judges.
🏛️ Chapter 24 – A Covenant Renewed at Shechem
Joshua then gathers all the tribes at Shechem — a place of historic significance. This was where God first appeared to Abraham in Canaan (Gen. 12:6–7), and where Jacob buried foreign gods (Gen. 35:2–4).
It is here that Joshua leads the people in a powerful covenant renewal ceremony.
🔁 God’s Story Rehearsed (Joshua 24:1–13)
Joshua recounts God’s faithfulness from Abraham’s call to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and their journey into the Promised Land. This history lesson is more than review — it’s a declaration:
“I gave… I sent… I brought you out… I destroyed…”
— Joshua 24:3–13
God is the hero of the story. Grace was the power behind every promise kept.
📣 The Call to Decision (Joshua 24:14–15)
Then comes one of the most iconic moments in all of Scripture. Joshua looks them in the eye and says:
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness… choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
This is no political speech. It is a spiritual fork in the road. Joshua doesn’t demand lip service — he demands sincerity.
“Choose this day.” This moment will define their identity — and ours. Will we worship the gods of culture? Or the God of covenant?
🪨 A Stone of Witness (Joshua 24:25–28)
Joshua makes a covenant with the people and sets up a large stone under an oak at Shechem. He tells them:
“This stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord.”
— Joshua 24:27
It’s a visible reminder — like the twelve stones from the Jordan — that they had entered into a holy agreement with their God.
⚰️ The Faithful Are Buried, But the Faith Must Live On
The book ends with three burials:
- Joshua – the faithful leader
- Joseph’s bones – carried all the way from Egypt, laid to rest in the land of promise
- Eleazar – the priestly servant of God
The leaders are gone, but the legacy remains. God has done everything He promised. Now the question hangs in the air: Will the people remain faithful without the ones who led them?
💡 Life Application – Choose This Day
1. You Are Never Too Old to Call Others to Courage
Joshua is old and advanced in years, but he finishes strong. Don’t waste your latter days. Use your final words to point people to God’s promises. Finish your race like Joshua — not drifting, but declaring.
2. Review God’s Faithfulness Often
Joshua walks through the whole history of grace to stir up trust and obedience. Do the same. Recount your deliverance. Rehearse His faithfulness. Remember what God has done. This will empower your resolve today.
3. Make Your Faith Personal and Public
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua made his allegiance known. In a world full of divided loyalties, this kind of declaration still matters. Stake your claim. Let your home bear witness to the living God.
4. Lead Even After You’re Gone
Joshua left behind memorials, covenants, and decisions. His words echoed long after his burial. Leave a spiritual inheritance that testifies even after you’ve gone home. What will your stone of witness be?
📖 Summary – The Final Word of Joshua
Joshua began as a servant of Moses. He became a servant of the Lord. And in the end, he became a spiritual father to the nation — calling them to holiness, courage, and worship.
He fought the battles, claimed the land, and finished the race. And now he stands at the end of the journey, not asking them to follow him — but to follow the Lord.
“Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
The choice is still ours today.
💬 Questions for Reflection
- What stone of witness have I set up in my life to remind me of God’s faithfulness?
- Am I serving the Lord in sincerity and faithfulness — or just going through motions?
- What legacy will my family remember me for?
Thus ends the Joshua Journey. The land is claimed. The covenant is renewed. The call is clear: Choose this day — and serve the Lord.
