WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE?
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15, N.I.V.
Often, when faced with hard decisions, it is useful to ask, "What is the alternative?" Your young son doesn't want to wash the dishes; the alternative is that he either eats off dirty dishes at the next meal or he hands the chore off to someone else. Faced with those unappealing options, he just may wash them. You don't feel like paying your income taxes--until you face the alternative. It can be very sobering.
Many end up turning their backs on God almost by default; they just don't look straight at the options. Joshua was using a very pointed technique when he asked the people to consider seriously whether they had a better alternative than to serve the Lord.
When we are asked to make a public choice, it is assumed that we can defend the choice with good reasons. In favor of his choice, Joshua had just reviewed the evidence: "You know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God promised concerning you; all have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed" (Joshua 23:14, R.S.V.). In the face of such evidence, one would have to be utterly foolish to turn away from such a God.
The people of Israel had the same evidence that Joshua had. Yet, while Joshua was confident, they were hesitating. We may not have to search beyond our own hearts to find the reason why. While the Egyptian or Amorite deities had not taken better care of them than God had, to be honest, these pagan gods did promise a bit more immediate fun and sensual indulgence, both in their worship and in their daily practices. And that, for many, tended to tilt the final vote.
It is hard for people who want to regard themselves as thoughtful to stand up and say, "I am trading long-range joy and eternal life for present pleasure trinkets." It is just too crassly stupid. That's why so many decisions against God have to be hidden behind drugged stupor, intemperate hours, or practiced illogic.
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15, N.I.V.
Often, when faced with hard decisions, it is useful to ask, "What is the alternative?" Your young son doesn't want to wash the dishes; the alternative is that he either eats off dirty dishes at the next meal or he hands the chore off to someone else. Faced with those unappealing options, he just may wash them. You don't feel like paying your income taxes--until you face the alternative. It can be very sobering.
Many end up turning their backs on God almost by default; they just don't look straight at the options. Joshua was using a very pointed technique when he asked the people to consider seriously whether they had a better alternative than to serve the Lord.
When we are asked to make a public choice, it is assumed that we can defend the choice with good reasons. In favor of his choice, Joshua had just reviewed the evidence: "You know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God promised concerning you; all have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed" (Joshua 23:14, R.S.V.). In the face of such evidence, one would have to be utterly foolish to turn away from such a God.
The people of Israel had the same evidence that Joshua had. Yet, while Joshua was confident, they were hesitating. We may not have to search beyond our own hearts to find the reason why. While the Egyptian or Amorite deities had not taken better care of them than God had, to be honest, these pagan gods did promise a bit more immediate fun and sensual indulgence, both in their worship and in their daily practices. And that, for many, tended to tilt the final vote.
It is hard for people who want to regard themselves as thoughtful to stand up and say, "I am trading long-range joy and eternal life for present pleasure trinkets." It is just too crassly stupid. That's why so many decisions against God have to be hidden behind drugged stupor, intemperate hours, or practiced illogic.
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