The powerful declaration, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” often graces plaques adorning the homes of Christians today. It stands as a testament to a family’s commitment to faith and service to God. While this modern application resonates with the spirit of the phrase, the original context in the time of Joshua carries even richer nuances.
The story behind this famous verse is rooted in the covenant relationship between God and Israel. At Mount Sinai, God initiated a covenant with Israel, outlining His expectations, to which the people responded with a promise of obedience. This covenant structure mirrored the vassal treaties common in that era, where a sovereign offered protection and provision in exchange for the vassal’s loyalty and good conduct. Rebellion from the vassal would incur the sovereign’s judgment. In this divine covenant, God was the ultimate Sovereign. He laid out His commandments and statutes (Exodus 20-23), and Israel pledged to uphold their end of the agreement (Exodus 24).
However, the generation that made this initial covenant at Sinai tragically failed. The golden calf incident shortly after (Exodus 32) was an early sign, but their ultimate downfall came when they refused to enter the Promised Land, lacking faith in God’s protection and His commitment to the covenant (Numbers 14). Consequently, that generation perished in the wilderness.
Forty years of wandering in the desert forged a new generation, one poised to inherit the Promised Land. The book of Deuteronomy serves as Moses’ recounting of Israel’s history and a reiteration of the Law for this new cohort. Many of them had not personally experienced the exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Sinai, or the rejection of the Promised Land. Moses urges this new Israel to choose to follow the Lord, presenting them with a stark choice between life and prosperity or death and destruction (Deuteronomy 30:15).
Following Moses’ death, Joshua led the people in conquering Canaan and establishing themselves in the land. As his life neared its end, Joshua gathered Israel once more, challenging them to renew the covenant and reaffirm their commitment to serving the Lord. Echoing Moses, Joshua laid out a choice before them. They could choose to serve the Lord or turn to the gods of the surrounding nations. (It’s important to understand that the concept of serving no god was foreign to them; everyone served a deity, the question was which one). Joshua emphasized that their choice would determine the consequences they would face. It is in this pivotal moment that Joshua declares his personal commitment in Joshua 24:14-15:
“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 house, we will serve the Lord.”
The people responded with good intentions, proclaiming in Joshua 24:16, “Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!”
Joshua, as the head of his household, likely encompassing his extended patriarchal family, proclaimed that he and his house would serve the Lord. In this ancient context, his declaration carried the weight of patriarchal authority. He was asserting that, as long as he lived, he would not permit the worship of any other deities within his extensive family. As the elder patriarch, he held significant sway over the actions of his household. However, it’s crucial to note that he could not dictate their innermost feelings, desires, and beliefs. Covenant adherence, in that time, was heavily focused on outward actions, perhaps more so than many Christian families today might emphasize.
When a Christian parent displays a sign that reads “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” they are, in many ways, echoing Joshua’s declaration, though often with a focus on their immediate family dwelling “under their roof.” Christian parents carry the responsibility to cultivate a home environment that honors God and to discourage influences that detract from this. However, it’s wise for Christian parents to remember that their control primarily extends to the external actions and activities within their home, and with considerably less authority than Joshua wielded as an ancient patriarch. Like Joshua, they are ultimately unable to control the hearts, beliefs, and desires of their children. Shaping these requires loving communication of their faith and, ultimately, the transformative work of the Spirit of God.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” stands as a powerful pledge to strive to create a home where everything that occurs within its walls is pleasing to God. It is also a prayerful aspiration that the children raised in that home will embrace the faith of their parents and choose to serve the Lord themselves.
