Choose Today Whom You Will Serve! (joshua 22-24)

Israel’s battles are over, the land has been divided, and now, Joshua gives his final speech before he dies. But before we say goodbye to this legendary leader, there’s some serious drama, a powerful warning, and one of the most famous verses in the Bible:

‘Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!’ (Joshua 24:15)

Section 1: A Misunderstood Altar (Joshua 22:1-12)

The war is over, and the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh finally return home to the east side of the Jordan.

Joshua blesses them and reminds them:

‘Be very careful to obey God and love Him with all your heart!’ (Joshua 22:5)

But then… things take a dramatic turn.

Before crossing back, these tribes build a massive altar near the Jordan River.

• The western tribes see it and freak out—they think it’s an act of rebellion against God.
• They prepare for war against their own brothers!

Why? Because in the past, rebellion brought disaster (like at Peor and with Achan), and they don’t want history to repeat itself.

Section 2: The Truth About the Altar (Joshua 22:13-34)

Before attacking, the western tribes send Phinehas the priest to confront them.

But the eastern tribes explain:

• ‘No! We didn’t build this altar for sacrifices!
• It’s a witness between us and future generations!’
• They feared that in the future, Israel might reject them for living across the Jordan, so they built the altar as a reminder that they all serve the same God.

Phinehas and the leaders breathe a sigh of relief and say:

‘Today we know the Lord is with us, because you have not been unfaithful.’

This shows us: Sometimes what looks like rebellion is actually a misunderstanding. Instead of jumping to conclusions, always seek the truth first.

Section 3: Joshua’s Final Warning (Joshua 23)

Years later, Joshua is now old and near death. He gathers the Israelites and gives them a final warning:

1. Stay faithful to God! Don’t mix with the remaining Canaanites or worship their gods.
2. If you turn away, judgment will come. Just as God kept His promises to bless you, He will also keep His promise to bring consequences for disobedience.

Joshua reminds them:

‘Not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed.’ (Joshua 23:14)

This is a challenge: Will Israel stay faithful, or will they fall into compromise?

Section 4: The Covenant Renewal at Shechem (Joshua 24:1-13)

Finally, Joshua gathers all of Israel at Shechem for one last moment together.

He retells their entire history, reminding them how:

• God called Abraham and led him to this land.
• God rescued them from Egypt and defeated Pharaoh.
• God led them through the wilderness and gave them victory in Canaan.

And then, Joshua reminds them:

‘You did not win this land by your sword or bow. It was the Lord who fought for you!’

This is a reminder: Our greatest victories in life come not from our own strength, but from God’s power.

Section 5: ‘Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve’ (Joshua 24:14-28)

And now, we get to one of the most famous verses in the Bible.

Joshua tells the people:

‘Choose today whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!’ (Joshua 24:15)

The people respond:

‘We will serve the Lord! We will never abandon Him!’

Joshua warns them:

• Serving God is a serious commitment.
• If they turn away, there will be consequences.

But the people insist, and Joshua makes a covenant with them that day.

Section 6: The Death of Joshua (Joshua 24:29-33)

After a lifetime of faithfulness, Joshua dies at 110 years old and is buried in the Promised Land.

• Israel remains faithful for a while, as long as those who knew Joshua were still alive.
• The bones of Joseph (which had been carried all the way from Egypt!) are finally buried in Shechem.

It’s the end of an era. But the question remains:

Will Israel stay faithful to God, or will they turn away?

Conclusion: How This Applies to Us Today

So, what do we learn from Joshua 22–24? Here are three big takeaways:

1. Don’t jump to conclusions. The altar misunderstanding almost led to war! Always seek truth before reacting.
2. God’s faithfulness requires our faithfulness. Joshua warned Israel that while God is faithful, they had to remain faithful too.
3. Choose whom you will serve. Faith isn’t automatic—we must make a personal decision to follow God every day.

And here’s the best part—through Jesus, we are invited into an even greater covenant with God. The question is: Will we choose to serve Him?”