Joshua gives a reminder to the Israelites to continue to be true to God.

If you do, he says, “One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for  you, as He promised.”

If they don’t, and if they follow the gods of the foreigners in their midst, “they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land….”

He then makes the famous statement… “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” My grandmother had that up in her house.

Then Joshua dies, and it is stated that for his whole life, and that of his elders after him, the Israelites followed the Lord faithfully.

Dear God, Thank you for the book of Joshua, where we learn how you keep your promises, and where the Israelites manage to survive for a long time without getting into trouble. Thank you for everything you give us in our lives. Please help us to love you before all other things.  Thank you for a fun fishing day with our friends. In Jesus’ name, Amen.