Joshua doesn't present serving God as an optional extra or a mild preference; he frames it as a choice between truly life-sustaining service and something that's "evil" (meaning ruinous or harmful). By highlighting the ancient gods of their fathers and the gods of the current inhabitants, he underscores that the available options are ultimately empty and destructive, making his personal commitment to the LORD a powerful, unwavering alternative.
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)
As Joshua's life nears its end, he gathers all Israel to make a final, solemn appeal. Having led them through wilderness and conquest, he stands before them on the cusp of their new life in the promised land. He challenges them directly to decide who they will truly serve, contrasting the idols of their ancestors and the Canaanites with the God who delivered them. This pivotal moment sets the stage for their collective covenant renewal, solidifying their commitment before Joshua's death and their transition to a new generation of leadership.
Joshua presents the Israelites with a choice: serve the LORD or serve other gods. But is it really a free-for-all, or is he guiding them toward an inevitable conclusion?
Joshua’s challenge, 'choose this day whom you will serve,' isn't about giving the people unlimited options. It’s a rhetorical strategy designed to highlight the absurdity of choosing anything other than the LORD.
A False Dichotomy?
Joshua knows these options are a dead end. He's not offering a neutral playing field; he's exposing the foolishness of idolatry by contrasting it with the clear evidence of God's power and faithfulness. This 'choice' is designed to make the right decision obvious and the wrong one repugnant.
In the face of potential wavering, Joshua makes a bold, personal declaration about his own family's allegiance. What does this reveal about leadership and conviction?
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Joshua’s statement, 'But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD,' is more than just a personal preference; it’s a covenantal anchor.
Setting the Standard
This isn't about exclusion, but about unwavering commitment. Joshua isn't waiting for the people to choose perfectly; he’s demonstrating the path he will take, inviting them to join him.
Joshua doesn't just tell the people to serve God; he explains why it’s a serious matter. What does God’s nature imply about our worship?
When the people affirm their choice to serve the LORD, Joshua delivers a sobering reminder about the nature of God:
A Holy and Jealous God
This teaching elevates service to the LORD from a mere preference to a sacred obligation rooted in God's very character. It underscores that true worship is exclusive and requires a heart fully devoted to Him.
Understand the original words
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.
This pivotal moment occurs at the close of Joshua's life, after the conquest of Canaan, as he urges the people to decisively choose the LORD over the idols of their past and their new neighbors, reinforcing the covenant made generations earlier.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from over 400 years of slavery in Egypt, led by Moses, establishing them as a nation and a people bound to Him by covenant.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin the military conquest of the land of Canaan, driving out its inhabitants, including the Amorites, as promised by God.
c. 1406 BC
Division of Canaanite Lands
After the initial conquest, the land is systematically divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, establishing their inheritance within the promised land.
c. 1405 BC— this verse
Joshua's Farewell Address
Joshua, an aging leader, gathers all Israel at Shechem to recount God's faithfulness and challenge them to commit fully to serving the LORD, rejecting idolatry.
c. 1405 BC
Covenant Renewal at Shechem
The people pledge their allegiance to the LORD, and Joshua establishes a statute and ordinance, making it a public testament to their commitment.
c. 1405 BC
Joshua's Death
Joshua dies at the age of 110, having faithfully served God and Israel, leaving behind a people settled in the land but facing ongoing spiritual challenges.
This passage echoes Joshua's challenge, presenting life and death, blessing and curse, as the ultimate choice between obeying God and disobeying Him, highlighting the gravity of the decision.
1 Kings 18:21Elijah's confrontation with the Israelites on Mount Carmel mirrors Joshua's demand for a decisive choice, asking them to commit wholly to either God or Baal, illustrating the need for undivided allegiance.
Matthew 6:24Jesus' teaching here directly addresses the impossibility of serving two masters, reinforcing the core message of Joshua 24:15 that a divided heart cannot truly serve the Lord.
Romans 12:1This verse calls believers to present themselves as living sacrifices, a response that flows from the 'mercy of God' and implies a willing, wholehearted service that aligns with Joshua's personal commitment and challenge to his household.
Galatians 5:1The call to stand firm in the freedom Christ has given, and not to submit again to a yoke of slavery, resonates with Joshua's plea for genuine, free-will service to the Lord, contrasting it with the bondage of idolatry.
calvinJoshua 24:15-24: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
- And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amori…
bensonJoshua 24:15: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15 . Seem evil — Unjust, unreasonable, or inconvenient. Choose ye — Not that he leaves them to their liberty, whether they would serve God or idols; for Joshua had no such power himself, nor coul…
Joshua doesn't present serving God as an optional extra or a mild preference; he frames it as a choice between truly life-sustaining service and something that's "evil" (meaning ruinous or harmful). By highlighting the ancient gods of their fathers and the gods of the current inhabitants, he underscores that the available options are ultimately empty and destructive, making his personal commitment to the LORD a powerful, unwavering alternative.
As Joshua's life nears its end, he gathers all Israel to make a final, solemn appeal. Having led them through wilderness and conquest, he stands before them on the cusp of their new life in the promised land. He challenges them directly to decide who they will truly serve, contrasting the idols of their ancestors and the Canaanites with the God who delivered them. This pivotal moment sets the stage for their collective covenant renewal, solidifying their commitment before Joshua's death and their transition to a new generation of leadership.
As Joshua's life nears its end, he gathers all Israel to make a final, solemn appeal. Having led them through wilderness and conquest, he stands before them on the cusp of their new life in the promised land. He challenges them directly to decide who they will truly serve, contrasting the idols of their ancestors and the Canaanites with the God who delivered them. This pivotal moment sets the stage for their collective covenant renewal, solidifying their commitment before Joshua's death and their transition to a new generation of leadership.
"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…" — Joshua doesn't present serving God as an optional extra or a mild preference; he frames it as a choice between truly life-sustaining service and something that's "evil" (meaning ruinous or harmful).…
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Last reviewed October 2026
