Session 7
Joshua 24:14-24
Memory Verse: Joshua 24:23-24
We face decisions every day.
Some are major, and some are minor.
And some we try to ignore-often with devastating results.
What’s more, our decisions can affect others in life-changing ways.
For example, Johann Rall, a German colonel during the American Revolution,
made a historic decision in December of 1776.
By some accounts, Rall was so wrapped up in a card game that he ignored the warnings of a British spy
that the Americans were planning a surprise attack on his Hessian troops in Trenton, New Jersey.
Yet, on Christmas night, George Washington led his troops across the Delaware River and did just what the spy had reported.
In the battle, Rall was mortally wounded and died.
Had Rall acted on the spy’s message, the American Revolution might have taken a very different turn.
Crash landings of commercial jets are extremely rare.
Nevertheless, one of the normal routines before a commercial jet takes off is flight attendants
giving passengers instructions on what to do in case of an emergency landing on land or water.
Most passengers seem to ignore the flight attendants.
People might get away with that on a plane, but it is always costly when people ignore warnings in the Word of God. (PSG, p. 64)
This week’s session wraps up the study of Joshua.
Summarize this from “Understand the Context” (PSG, p. 65) to provide more background:
“Chapters 23-24 contain Joshua’s last words to Israel.
He challenged the people to remain faithful to the Lord
and stay away from the false gods of the peoples still remaining in the land.
Joshua warned them that if they worshiped these idols, then the Lord would destroy them.
The people insisted they would remain faithful.
Consequently, Joshua made a covenant for the people
and set up a memorial stone as a witness to the oath they made to the Lord.
Israel worshiped God as long as Joshua and their elders who served beside Joshua lived.”
Joshua had led the people to do some incredible things as they moved into the promised land.
His final words represent one last challenge for the people of God.