February 23

“Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”  Joshua 24:23

Near the end of his life Joshua gives the Israelites a brief history lesson of how God brought them up out of Egypt, His provision and protection in the wilderness, and how He delivered them from their enemies (24:2-13).  In verses 14 and 15, he instructs them to throw away the gods of their ancestors, that they need to choose whom they will serve (their gods or the God who delivered them), but for Joshua and his household they will serve the Lord.  The people respond in verse 16 that they will serve the Lord their God and not other gods.  Challenged by Joshua and the claim they made, the Israelites again say, “We will serve the Lord” (24:21).

After twice proclaiming they will serve the Lord, Joshua issues a direct and practical command for them to “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”  Despite God’s protection, provision, and miraculous victories they witnessed, they were still holding onto idols they had brought up from Egypt.  The Israelites said one thing, but they lived differently.  Joshua instructed them to “throw away” their idols/other gods.  The God of Israel cannot be added to a collection of idols and other gods.  True worship of the Lord their God was to be an exclusive relationship - not one filled with other idols and gods.  Joshua also gives the command to “yield their hearts.”  Joshua takes them from an outward posture (removing idols) to an inward posture (yielding their hearts).  

So it is with us.  Although we can look back over our lives and see where and how God has provided, protected, and delivered us, our hearts are inclined to evil (Genesis 6:5).  Whether we like to admit it or not, our hearts are often torn between serving other idols/gods and serving the Lord God who loves us and has delivered us.  The command of Joshua to the Israelites is a command for us today.  Think of a young tree that is staked so it grows in a certain direction. What can you do so that your heart is deliberately leaning into and toward God rather than what comes naturally: following and serving other gods?  In his song, “Took Me Out of Egypt,” David Baroni writes, “There is only room for one King in the throne room of my soul…”  Who/what is in the throne room of your soul?  Who/what is in the throne room of my soul?

Father - Thank You for Your protection, provision, and deliverance in my life.  You are so good to me.  Yet, I so quickly forget and chase after other things (idols and gods) forsaking You.  Forgive me.  I want to serve You and You alone.  I want You in the throne room of my soul.  Help me.  Clear everything else from my heart so that You are my heart’s true desire.  Thank You for Your Son.  In Your name we pray.  Amen