Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

would serve--"the gods which your fathers served," from whom
Abraham was called out, "or the gods of the Amorites, in whose
land you dwell."
These last words were a sharp rebuke to Israel. The gods of the
Amorites had not been able to protect their worshipers. Because of
their shameful sins, that wicked nation had been destroyed, and the
good land that they once possessed had been given to God's people.
How foolish for Israel to choose the gods for whose worship the
Amorites had been destroyed!
"As for me and my house," said Joshua, "we will serve the
Lord." The people felt the same holy devotion that inspired the
leader's heart, and they gave the unhesitating response, "Far be it
from us that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods."
But before they could make any permanent changes in their
lives, they must feel their complete inability in themselves to obey
God. While they trusted their own righteousness it was impossible
for them to obtain pardon--they could not meet the claims of God's
perfect law, and it was hopeless for them to pledge themselves to
serve God. Only by faith in Christ could they obtain pardon of sin
and receive strength to obey God's law. They must totally trust in
the merits of the promised Savior.
With deep earnestness they once more stated their pledge of
loyalty: "The Lord our God we will serve, and His voice we will
obey!"
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