Where Abram first went to when the Canaanites were in the land. (Genesis 12:6) & where Jacob (Israel) first got rid of foreign Gods (Gen 35:2-4) and buried them under the oak Shechem

Goshen Sinai Kadesh R Jordan Med Sea Red Sea River Zered Jericho Dead Sea

End Here (Shechem) Start here (Jericho)

Joshua 24 1 Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. 2 He said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ' 13 I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.‘ 14 "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems evil to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we travelled. 18 And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God.“ 19 Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you."

21 But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD." 22 Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied. 23 "Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.“ 24 And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.“ Thank God for his written Word to us

Joshua 24 Fear Knowing what harms us Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Illness, accident, paying bills, relationship breakdown Not being afraid Having God’s perspective on what harms us Fear of God Having God’s perspective on my sins Knowing that my sins attract God’s wrath Other Gods: self, comfort, possessions, work x x

19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.” Jesus said (in Luke 12:5) “I will show you whom you should fear.. the one who has power to throw you into hell” The writer to Hebrews (10:26-31) said: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment of those who have insulted the Spirit of grace? It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” The church (in Acts 9:31) enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

Joshua 24 – version 2 “God So loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” 14 "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods you used to worship and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems evil to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods you used to worship, or the gods those around your worship, But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! For we have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. The life we live in the body, we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God.“ 19 Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you."

21 But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD." 22 Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied. 23 "Now then," says Jesus, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.“ 24 And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.“ For Christ has Died – Christ is Risen & Christ will come again.