On occasion, our Jewish ancestors needed to be reminded of God’s faithfulness, persistence, and undying care for them. An example of this is found in the Book of Joshua (chapter 24). God Himself speaks to the people, through His servant Joshua, and makes it clear that He has been with His people – all the way from the earliest times to the present. God drops a few hints to them that they ought not think that their survival was all their own doing. Again, His constant care for them has been shown from generation to generation. At the same time, God offers them a choice to continue following His Way or to opt for the far lesser “gods” of the surrounding peoples which they were often tempted to follow.
Today would be a good day to look back and see the hand of God in the events of our own lives, things which happened, sometimes, beyond our expectations or our ability to bring them about ourselves. We would do well also to reflect on the “gods” in our lives which we are tempted to follow. For example, the “gods of mammon,” like money, career, success, enjoyment, consumerism, status, and image. Can we really opt for these “gods” and still be totally committed to the one God?
