“Joshua's Family Plan”

By:  Pastor Milton Coats

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Every responsible father should have a family plan for his family.  It has been said he who fails to plan, plans to fail.  Psalm 127:1a says “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”  The scripture does not mean God will come down and physically build a house for you, but it does mean if we don’t include God in all our plans, they are vain, empty, useless and meaningless.

Joshua had a plan for his family.  He said in Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  This is a wholesome statement made by Joshua.  It is also an interesting statement because the biblical record does not indicate Joshua had a wife or children, although he possibly did.

Who was Joshua?  Joshua was of the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Nun.  He was one of the twelve spies sent into the promise land by Moses to spy it out.  He was one of two who brought back a good report.  Caleb was the other.  Upon the death of Moses, he succeeded Moses as Israel’s next leader.  It was under his leadership that Israel crossed the Jordan and drove out the inhabitants of the land and possessed the promise land.

In this 24^th chapter, Joshua is 110 years old.  The people of God have received their inheritance.  They have gotten their stuff.  People have to be careful when they get their blessing that they don’t forget the blessor.  Joshua, God’s man understood this great danger and cautioned God’s people.  He admonished them to choose that day who they would serve; the gods their fathers served on the other side of the flood in Egypt, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land they now dwell?  Joshua made it crystal clear, regardless of their decision, he and his household were going to serve the Lord!

Joshua was a leader and leaders have influence.  He was also saying all who were under his sphere of influence were going to serve the Lord.  Joshua had a family plan for his family and for all who were under his influence.  Fathers, you’ve got to influence your family to serve the Lord.  Happy Father’s Day!