Whom Will You Choose?

September 4th, 2025

Joshua 24:11-15.

One of my favorite sports to play in little league was basketball. As I grew, practices were more frequent, and coaches impressed on us the finer points of the game. After practice one day, my dad pulled me aside to give me this advice: When the coach is correcting, encouraging, or instructing another player, listen. Even when it is not you being talked to, as part of the team the instructions are for you, too.

In our passage, Joshua was speaking honestly to the people about what was ahead of them. They were about to enter the promised land, something they had longed for since they left Egypt. Yet, they had proved repeatedly that they were prone to wander.

The way forward demanded faithful obedience to God. Joshua affirmed that he had made his decision.

Joshua was not the “coach” in this scenario! God is in charge and the instructions given to Joshua to serve the Lord were the same for the rest of the people. Joshua was part of the same “team” as them and as us: God’s people.

He and his house had decided to listen and obey the command to serve the Lord. Will the others? Will we?

Author: Austin Troyer