What does it mean to "obey His voice" in Joshua 24:24? Setting the Scene Joshua gathers the tribes at Shechem, rehearses God’s faithfulness, then invites a fresh covenant response. The people answer, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey His voice” (Joshua 24:24). What the Words Literally Say • Hebrew: שָׁמַ֖ע בְּקֹל֑וֹ (shamah beqolo) • shamah = listen with intent to comply • beqolo = in/unto His voice In Hebrew thought, truly “hearing” includes doing. To “obey His voice” is therefore to hear God’s spoken will and put it into practice without delay or debate. Elements of Obedience in Joshua’s Day • Attentive listening—gathering to receive the Law regularly (Deuteronomy 31:11-13). • Whole-hearted allegiance—no mixture with foreign gods (Joshua 24:23). • Prompt action—crossing the Jordan, marching around Jericho, allocating territory, maintaining the tabernacle worship. • Continued accountability—the stone witness Joshua set up (24:26-27) reminded Israel that God’s words stand. Scripture Echoes That Clarify “Obey His Voice” • Exodus 19:5: “Now if you indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession.” • Deuteronomy 28:1-2: Blessings flow “if you listen obediently to the voice of the LORD your God.” • 1 Samuel 15:22: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” • Psalm 95:7-8: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” • John 10:27: “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” • James 1:22: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Practical Dimensions for Us Today • Give God the first and last word—daily Scripture intake tunes the ear to His voice. • Discern His voice by its agreement with the written Word; He never contradicts Himself. • Submit the will—obedience begins where personal preference ends. • Act promptly—delayed obedience is disobedience (compare Luke 6:46). • Persevere—continue hearing and doing, even when it costs (John 14:23-24). Why Obedience Matters • Affirms covenant loyalty—our profession is authenticated by our practice (1 John 2:3-5). • Invites blessing—God’s commands are pathways to life, not burdens (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). • Displays God’s character to the watching world—Israel was meant to be a light to the nations; so are we (Matthew 5:16). In Joshua 24:24, “obey His voice” is not a vague ideal but a concrete, ongoing, covenant commitment: listen carefully, trust completely, and act decisively on everything God says. |
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