We will also serve the Lord

And the LORD drove out from before us all the people, even the Amorites who dwelt in the land. We will also serve the LORD; for he is our God. And Joshua said unto the people, You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. – Joshua 24v18-19

It seems at first glance that Israel had it figured out. Joshua gave them a choice, and they said that they would also serve the Lord. It looks like their ‘also’ might mean that they were agreeing with Joshua, but something was still not right.

It appears from Joshua’s next comment that the people meant that they would also serve the Lord along with the other gods. Joshua told them that they could not serve the Lord because He is a holy and jealous God who demands total worship.

Perhaps his words were just a challenge to remind them of what serving the Lord involved. It cannot be a partial light hearted attitude. Serving God is not a partial commitment. It means that we are giving ourselves wholly to Him.

When we say that we are going to serve the Lord it is a total commitment. We cannot have one foot in and one foot out. We can’t add Him to our other gods. They must be totally removed or we, as Joshua said, cannot serve the Lord.