@Cyrus
Thats false, men are spiritually dead to God, nobody has a choice not to be dead. Thats Gods choice alone
This has nothing to do with salvation, this was about Gods redeemed chosen people, it was Gods choice they were His People. Also the choice wasnt for them to serve God, Joshua said they couldn't do that Vs 19
19
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
Does that sound like Joshua thought they had freewill ? Learn how to read the context please.
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” (
John 1:12).
Joshua had served loyally and valiantly as Moses’ assistant – his second in command – as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. They then spent the next forty years in the wilderness, still under Moses’ leadership. That generation was barred from entering the Promised Land – God’s rest – as a result of their disbelief and disloyalty (
Numbers 13-14). Thus, they were sentenced to wander the wilderness for forty years. Their children would be the ones to conquer the Promised Land.
Technically, Joshua was a part of that unfaithful generation. He and Caleb had been in the group of spies to scope out the Promised Land ahead of time. They were the only two to bring back a good report:
“Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, ‘The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us’” (
Numbers 13:6-8).
After the death of Moses, Joshua led the next generation of Israelites to great victories in the land of Canaan, establishing a foothold in the Promised Land. Then, as his death approached, Joshua gathered the people of Israel together to encourage them to renew their
covenant with the Lord. As Moses had done, Joshua offered them a choice – to serve the God of the surrounding, defeated nations, or to serve the Lord their God.
See, the Israelites had been having a very difficult time keeping their commitment, their covenant, with God. So, Joshua warned them and took his stand:
“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (
Joshua 24:14-15).
The Israelites then answer in unison: “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!” (
Joshua 24:16).
Despite their best intentions, Israel would fail to keep their commitment.
