Joshua 24:14-15
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Joshua's plea to "serve him in sincerity and in truth" emphasizes that this devotion isn't just about outward actions but also the inner disposition. The phrase "put away the gods" doesn't just mean abandoning foreign deities but also implies a necessary internal house-cleaning, revealing that remnants of idolatry could still linger in their hearts even after experiencing God's powerful deliverance.
“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joshua has just finished recounting God's mighty acts from Abraham's time to their present conquest of the Promised Land. Now, he issues a solemn call to the assembled Israelites, urging them to choose whether they will continue to follow the LORD or return to the idolatrous practices of their ancestors. This foundational address sets the stage for their covenant renewal, demanding a definitive commitment to God and the rejection of all other gods.
Joshua lays out a powerful two-part call: fear God and serve Him. But what does that look like in real life, and why are sincerity and truth so crucial?
Joshua 24:14 begins with a foundational command: "fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness." This isn't about being terrified, but about holding God in awe, recognizing His supreme authority and goodness. This awe naturally leads to service.
A Service Rooted in Reality
Joshua emphasizes serving God not just with outward actions, but "in sincerity and in truth." This points to a service that is:
This isn't a passive faith; it's an active, wholehearted devotion that permeates every aspect of life.
Joshua doesn't just call for new allegiance; he demands a complete break from the past. Why was putting away ancestral gods so essential for Israel's future?
The second part of Joshua's command is striking: 'Put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.' This wasn't just a suggestion; it was a non-negotiable requirement for true devotion to Yahweh.
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Why Such a Stark Demand?
Joshua was calling the Israelites to sever ties with the idolatry that had marked their ancestors' lives, both in Mesopotamia (beyond the Euphrates) and in Egypt. This was critical because:
Joshua's call implies that some among the people may have still harbored attachments to these old ways, possibly in secret. A truly sincere and faithful service to the LORD demanded the complete removal of these spiritual contaminants.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name of the covenant God of Israel, the self-existent and eternal One who revealed Himself to Moses. It signifies God's holiness, faithfulness, and personal relationship with His people.
yare' · Hebrew Verb
To revere, stand in awe of, and honor God. In a biblical context, it implies a heart-posture of humble submission, recognition of His majesty, and obedience rooted in love.
`abad · Hebrew Verb
To minister to or perform religious service for a deity or master. It encompasses acts of worship, obedience, and living in total devotion and submission to God's will.
tamim · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Purity, wholeness, or integrity of heart. It describes a lifestyle characterized by moral uprightness and an undivided devotion to God, free from hypocrisy or double-mindedness.
'emeth · Hebrew Noun
Steadfastness, reliability, and devotion. It denotes a firm commitment to keeping covenant promises and remaining loyal to God's truth regardless of circumstances.
'elohim · Hebrew Noun
Spiritual objects of worship created by human hands or imagination. Biblically, these are false entities that distract from or compete with the worship of the one true Creator God.
ra` · Hebrew Adjective
That which is morally wrong, wicked, or contrary to the will and nature of God. It refers to thoughts, actions, or attitudes that oppose God's holiness and covenant standard.
Joshua's call to reject ancestral gods from Mesopotamia and Egypt highlights the deep-seated nature of idolatry, which persisted even after decades of wilderness wandering and miraculous deliverance.
c. 2100-2000 BC
Abraham's Family in Ur
Abraham's family, including his father Terah, lived in Ur of the Chaldeans, a region known for its diverse religious practices and polytheism.
c. 1900 BC
Abraham's Call and Migration
God called Abraham from Ur to journey to Canaan, marking the beginning of a new covenant relationship and a break from ancestral idolatry.
c. 1800-1550 BC
Israelites Sojourn in Egypt
Jacob and his descendants settled in Egypt, where they lived for centuries and were exposed to Egyptian religious customs and deities.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Under Moses' leadership, the Israelites were miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt, a pivotal event Joshua emphasizes to underscore God's faithfulness.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan
After 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua led the Israelites in conquering the Promised Land, defeating various Canaanite nations.
c. 1405 BC— this verse
Covenant Renewal at Shechem
Joshua convenes the tribes of Israel at Shechem to recount God's mighty deeds and challenge them to recommit to the covenant, urging them to abandon foreign gods.
This passage echoes Joshua's command to fear and serve the LORD exclusively, emphasizing that loyalty to God alone is the true expression of reverence and obedience.
Psalm 101:2The plea to 'walk with integrity of heart' directly reflects Joshua's call to serve the LORD 'in sincerity and in truth,' highlighting the inner disposition required for faithful worship.
Acts 7:42-43Stephen's speech quotes Amos, which directly references the Israelites bearing 'the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images,' confirming the historical reality of ancestral idolatry that Joshua was commanding them to put away.
1 Corinthians 5:8This passage uses the same Greek concept of 'sincerity' as found in the Septuagint translation of Joshua 24:14, linking the idea of pure, unadulterated living to the celebration of God's truth, like the unleavened bread at Passover.
2 Corinthians 1:12The idea of living 'in simplicity and godly sincerity' mirrors Joshua's exhortation, showing that a genuine walk with God is marked by an honest and straightforward heart, free from hypocrisy.
wesleyJoshua 24:14: "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD."
24:14 The gods - Whereby it appears, that although Joshua had doubtless prevented and purged out all public idolatry, yet there were some of them who practised it in their private houses and retirements. Your fathers - Terah, and Nahor, and Abraham, as ver.2, and other of your ancestors. In Egyp…
jfbJoshua 24:14: "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD."
14-28. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth—After having enumerated so many grounds for national gratitude, Joshua calls on them to declare, in a public and solemn manner, whether they will be faithful and obedient to the God of Israel. He avowed this to be his ow…
Joshua's plea to "serve him in sincerity and in truth" emphasizes that this devotion isn't just about outward actions but also the inner disposition. The phrase "put away the gods" doesn't just mean abandoning foreign deities but also implies a necessary internal house-cleaning, revealing that remnants of idolatry could still linger in their hearts even after experiencing God's powerful deliverance.
Joshua has just finished recounting God's mighty acts from Abraham's time to their present conquest of the Promised Land. Now, he issues a solemn call to the assembled Israelites, urging them to choose whether they will continue to follow the LORD or return to the idolatrous practices of their ancestors. This foundational address sets the stage for their covenant renewal, demanding a definitive commitment to God and the rejection of all other gods.
Joshua has just finished recounting God's mighty acts from Abraham's time to their present conquest of the Promised Land. Now, he issues a solemn call to the assembled Israelites, urging them to choose whether they will continue to follow the LORD or return to the idolatrous practices of their ancestors. This foundational address sets the stage for their covenant renewal, demanding a definitive commitment to God and the rejection of all other gods.
"“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day wh…" — Joshua's plea to "serve him in sincerity and in truth" emphasizes that this devotion isn't just about outward actions but also the inner disposition. The phrase "put away the gods" doesn't just mean…
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Last reviewed October 2026
