Building Culture

¹⁶ Then the people answered, “God forbid that we ever leave the LORD to serve other gods! ¹⁷ The LORD is our God. He is the one who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. He has done these mighty signs in our sight. He has protected us the whole way we’ve gone and in all the nations through which we’ve passed. ¹⁸ The LORD has driven out all the nations before us, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God.” ¹⁹ Then Joshua said to the people, “You can’t serve the LORD, because he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He won’t forgive your rebellion and your sins. ²⁰ If you leave the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn around and do you harm and finish you off, in spite of having done you good in the past.” ²¹ Then the people said to Joshua, “No! The LORD is the one we will serve.” ²² So Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” They said, “We are witnesses!” ²³ “So now put aside the foreign gods that are among you. Focus your hearts on the LORD, the God of Israel.” ²⁴ The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and will obey him.” ²⁵ On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people and established just rule for them at Shechem.