Monday, July 29: “Predicted Consequences”

Joshua 24: 16, 18, 19a, 20: “The people answered and said, ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; we also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.’ Then Joshua said to the people, ‘You will not be able to serve the Lord…If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you.’”

In response to Joshua’s famous challenge to “choose for yourselves today” (Joshua 24: 15), the Israelites promise to choose well. But just like Moses in his farewell address years earlier, Joshua isn’t so sure; he’s seen too much stubborn idolatry in this people The undesirable consequences to the unfaithful desires are well-documented throughout the book of Judges, as well as the Lord’s blessings upon the when they are true to Him. It is all there to show us that free will obedience matters, for it is keyed directly into consequences, good or bad.