What does “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” mean in Joshua 24:15?

Answer

The phrase “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” is commonly displayed on plaques in the homes of Christians today. It signifies the family’s dedication to serving the Lord. While this allegiance is a valid interpretation of the text, it carried slightly different meanings in the time of Joshua.

Initially, God established a covenant with Israel at Sinai. He outlined His expectations, and the people agreed to abide by them. This form of covenant was typical among vassals and suzerains during that era. The suzerain pledged to protect and support the vassals, who, in turn, were expected to behave in a manner that reflected positively on the suzerain. If the vassals rebelled, the suzerain would retaliate and discipline them. At Sinai, the suzerain was not a mortal king but God Himself. He communicated His requirements to Israel (Exodus 20—23), and the people committed to fulfilling them (Exodus 24).

Regrettably, Moses’ generation failed significantly. Shortly after, they crafted the golden calf (Exodus 32) and ultimately 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.

Following forty years of wandering, a new generation emerged, prepared to enter the Promised Land. The book of Deuteronomy recounts Israel’s history and summarizes the Law for this new generation, many of whom did not witness the exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Sinai, or the rejection of the Promised Land. Moses urges Israel to follow the Lord, presenting them with a choice between life and prosperity or death and destruction: «See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; », (Deuteronomy 30:15).

After Moses’ death, Joshua leads the people in conquest and establishes them in the land. As his death nears, Joshua gathers Israel once more to urge them to renew the covenant and confirm their commitment to serving the Lord. Similar to Moses, he presents them with a choice: they can either serve the Lord or the gods of the neighboring nations. (It would never have crossed their minds that they could serve no gods. Everyone worshiped some deity; it was just a matter of which one.) Joshua emphasizes that regardless of their decision, they will face the consequences. Joshua declares his personal dedication to the Lord in Joshua 24:14–15:

“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Put 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 dwell. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

The people affirm their commitment in Joshua 24:16:
“Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!’”

As the head of his household, which likely included the entire extended family over which he presided as patriarch, Joshua declares that he and his family will serve the Lord. In this context, he assures that during his lifetime, no one in his extended family will worship any other deity. As an ancient patriarch, he could dictate the actions of his family. Clearly, he could not control their deepest feelings, desires, and beliefs. Upholding the covenant primarily involved outward actions, likely more externally focused than most present-day Christian families would prefer.

Today, when a Christian father hangs a sign in his home stating “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” he is making a strong declaration.The same thing that Joshua did, although he is probably thinking more of his immediate family who live “under his roof.” Christian parents have a responsibility to ensure that what goes on in the home is honoring to God and to exclude activities that are not. Christian parents would do well to remember, however, that they can only control, at most, the external actions and activities that take place in the home, and with much less authority than would have been allowed to Joshua as an ancient patriarch. They are like Joshua in that they are powerless to control what their children feel, believe, and desire. That will require loving communication of their faith to their children and, ultimately, a work of the Spirit of God to change their hearts.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” is a promise to do the best we can to ensure that everything that takes place inside the home honors God. It is also a prayer that the children raised there will follow in the faith of their parents.