As for Me and My House, Will Serve the Lord!
Joshua 24:1–15
Introduction: From the “The World Needs a Father” website: “Fatherlessness is an urgent, devastating global catastrophe.” Stefan Lessing defines fatherlessness as “not only the complete physical absence of a dad, but fathers who are at home, but never present; either physically working, emotionally disconnected, or abusive, fathers who don’t show up when they need to be there.” A father is never merely a title. It is a calling. God places a man in that role and entrusts him with real, covenantal responsibility. It is a God‑given duty. If fathers fail to grasp the seriousness of their calling and neglect the duty God has entrusted to them, the consequences ripple far beyond the walls of their own homes. When fatherhood collapses, society cracks. And the numbers bear painful witness to this truth. Consider these sobering realities (Stats source: https://www.mcatraininginternational.com/world-needs-father/):
63% of suicides come from fatherless homes.
80% of rapists motivated by displaced anger come from fatherless homes.
70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes.
40% of all children do not live with their biological father.
85% of children with behavioral problems come from fatherless homes.
90% of homeless children come from fatherless homes.
71% of children who do not finish school come from fatherless homes.
The point is crystal clear, when a father abandons the calling and mandate God has given him, the consequences run deep and often stretch across generations. Yet this is precisely where our text turns us toward hope. God is not silent, and He has not left fathers to fend for themselves. The Lord cares for our families more than we ever could. He loves fathers, He strengthens them, and most importantly, He Himself is the model and measure of all fatherhood.
Setting: The place for covenant renewal
They came to “Shechem” (24:1). This is a very significant place. Abraham received the promise of land for his offspring at Shechem, near the oak of Moreh (Gen. 12:6-7). Jacob purchased a piece of land here, which clearly demonstrated his belief in the promise (Gen. 33:18-20). And it was here, after the tragedy at Ai, that Joshua led the renewal of their covenant with God (Joshua 8). Now, as we reach the final chapter of Joshua, the Scripture brings us to a full‑circle moment for Joshua and the people of God. The promise first spoken to Abraham, carried through Moses, and entrusted to Joshua now stands fulfilled. Joshua can say at the end of his life, in 23:14, “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.”
“They presented themselves before.” Today, like any other Lord’s day, we present ourselves before God, not to anyone or for any other purpose other than worship.
Remember God’s covenant faithfulness
Joshua provided a summary of God's great acts from Abraham to the conquest of the land.
From Abraham’s call to the exodus (24:2–7 – covers a span of approximately 500 years from Genesis 11 to Exodus 12)
Wilderness experience (24:8–10)
Experience in the promised land (24:11–12)
Throughout his address, Joshua linked the present generation with the past. Take note of the word “fathers” in verses 2 and 6 and the alternate use of the pronouns “you” and “they.” David Howard writes, “God did not just make himself known in ages past; he also worked mightily and graciously for the people being addressed…Christians today are still part of that great spiritual heritage (Romans 11:11–24; Hebrews 11).”
However, Joshua’s overview of covenant history focuses on God and his grace to his people. Notice the personal pronoun “I” and first-person singular verbs:
24:3 — I took Abraham… I led him… I made his offspring many… I gave him Isaac
24:4 — I gave Jacob and Esau… I gave Esau the hill country
24:5 — I sent Moses and Aaron… I plagued Egypt… I brought you out
24:6 — I brought your fathers out of Egypt
24:7 — I put darkness between you and the Egyptians… I brought the sea upon them… I covered them
24:8 — I brought you to the land of the Amorites… I gave them into your hand… I destroyed them before you
24:10 — I would not listen to Balaam… I delivered you out of his hand
24:11 — I gave them into your hand
24:12 — I sent the hornet before you… I drove them out before you
24:13 — I gave you a land you had not labored for… I gave you cities you did not build… I gave you vineyards and olive orchards you did not plant
This speech presents a “theology of grace in motion,” a cascade of divine verbs that shows that Israel’s entire story rests on what God has done, not on what they achieved. The God who took, led, gave, sent, plagued, brought, covered, destroyed, delivered, and drove out is the same faithful Father who now calls His people to serve Him with covenant resolve.
Application: To remember is to recall God’s great acts and to reconnect our covenant history. We remember by taking hold of the means of grace (the Word, prayer, and sacraments), which are God’s appointed means to shape, strengthen, and steady our commitment.
Recommit to covenant loyalty
“Service” is a key theme in Joshua 24
Israel must choose: Will they abandon the gods that their fathers served beyond the rivers and the gods of Egypt to serve the Lord?
Joshua gave them two options: whether they would pursue “two bad choices” (idolatries which are damning) or the “choice” (serving the LORD) they all must make.”
What does it mean to serve the Lord?
Fearing the Lord (exclusive loyalty) – “It is not paralyzing horror, but a reverent awe.” Is your life filled with the awesomeness of God?
Putting away idols (spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness – Jesus is a better treasure, One infinitely beautiful and valuable than comfort, applause, or any worldly gain.
Serving the Lord is a household direction (in sincerity and truth) – Dads, how are you doing? Quoting Joshua 24:15, will your kids be able to say, “Dude, that’s my Dad.” Dads, you can’t be the least spiritually engaged. You cannot fully serve God if you do not wholeheartedly dedicate yourself to Him.
Application: On our way to the “Steps of Faith” yesterday, Sef was working through some calculus problems. After about thirty minutes, he suddenly shouted with excitement, “Yes, I got it! This is a very tricky problem.” I looked at the page and, honestly, I didn’t understand a thing. Kids, even when you think you are better than your Dads in math or any other subject, it is not cool/right to be arrogant or to look down on them. And dads, there will always be things we don’t know. But there is one thing God does say we can do and must do. The Lord commands us “to bring them (our kids) up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
What’s our primary calling? Some know it. Some are confused. Some ignore it. This is what the Bible says (what marks godly fatherhood?):
Provision (Material provision: functional, not foundational. Your job can provide income, but not identity): 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Compassion: Psalm 103:13, “As a father shows compassion to his children.”
Discipline: Hebrews 12:7, “For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”
Spiritual leadership (shepherding the souls of their children, shaping them by the Scripture – leading by tending, teaching, and training):
Proverbs 1:8, “Hear, my son, your father’s instructions.”
Proverbs 22:6 – “train up a child in the way he should go…”
Genesis 18:19, “For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice.”
Deuteronomy 4:9, “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children.”
Ephesians 6:4, “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Spiritual leadership should be a high priority. Each father should have this high and holy vision for his family. Fatherhood is defined not merely by “economics” or “authority” but by covenantal leadership.
Conclusion:
1. God’s grace precedes all human obedience. In Joshua 24:1–13, Joshua highlights God’s sovereign mercy in rescuing an undeserving people before Joshua issues a single command. Having received this unmerited deliverance, Joshua responds with covenant faithfulness, pledging his entire household to the Lord’s service. This sequence points directly to Jesus Christ, our ultimate Covenant Head, who perfectly served us (“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” – Mark 10–45) by fulfilling the law and bearing our sins on the cross. We do not serve to earn God's favor, but because Christ's finished work has effectively redeemed us and united us to Him. Therefore, beholding the sovereign grace of Christ on the cross is what truly constrains and empowers our families to cry out, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15) Tim Keller said, “How can you come to grips with someone who has given himself utterly for you without you giving yourself utterly for him? Jesus gave himself wholly for us. So now, we must give ourselves wholly to him.”
2. Joshua’s declaration is not a slogan. It is a covenant commitment. When a father says, “As for me and my house…” he is taking responsibility for the spiritual direction of everyone under his care. This verse means: I will lead my home toward God. I will shape the spiritual atmosphere of my household. I will take responsibility for the worship, discipleship, and direction of my family. It is a father saying: “My home will not drift. My home will not be neutral. My home will not be spiritually passive. Under my watch, we will serve the Lord.”
Sources:
David Jackman, Preaching the Word: Joshua.
Rhett P. Dodson, Every Promise of Your Word: The Gospel According to Joshua.
https://www.mcatraininginternational.com/world-needs-father/