obedience

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Jos 24:15)

For Joshua to be able to make such a statement on the day of his death, he must have had unshakable confidence in his house that no matter what happens, he and his whole house will serve the Lord. Since the purity and holiness of the house is the husband’s responsibility, since he is answerable for them all before God, it must have been very comforting for Joshua to know that on the Day of Judgment, he can present his family to the LORD unblemished (Eph 5:27). This should be the goal of every husband and father, every head of his house, and it is a tremendous responsibility. How then can a husband and father ensure that his house will serve the LORD, how can he know that no matter what happens, his house will not waver, but stand firm to the end (Mat 24:13)? The key to it all lies in obedience.

Just as we are asked to obey the LORD and keep His commandments (Lev 22:31; Deu 11:26-28; Act 5:29, to name just a few references), a family is called to obey the husband and father and keep his commandments (Eph 3:1; Eph 5:22; Col 3:18,20). Christ is the head of man, Paul writes, and the man is the head of the woman (1 Co 11:3), so the hierarchy is clear, still valid as it was laid out from the beginning (Gen 2:18): It is the husband and father who “runs the show”, for it is him also who will be held responsible finally.

Stay tuned for more.