READING: Joshua 19-22
“All came to pass.”
Joshua 21:45
Think about promises that people have made to you in the past. Or, consider promises that you’ve made to others. To be honest, I tend to remember the un-kept promises more than the kept ones. Maybe most of us are that way, even when the un-kept promises were made decades ago. Somehow, we take kept promises for granted and lose long-term trust over the un-kept ones.
That’s one reason these summary words about God’s finally getting His people into the Promised Land mean so much to me:
“Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” (Josh. 21:43-45)
Look closely at these words again, and don’t miss the repeated emphasis on God’s faithfulness to His promises. He “swore to give [the land] to their fathers,” and “they settled there.” God gave them rest “just as he had sworn.” He conquered all of their enemies because He had said He would. Indeed, there was not “one single word” of God’s promises that did not come to pass.
Not one single word. Not one. God did everything He said He would do.
Even if every other person in my life breaks his or her promises to me, God will always, always keep His Word. That kind of promise-keeper I cannot take for granted.
ACTION STEPS:
- Spend some extra time today reviewing the promises of God in His Word.
- Reflect on times God has kept His Word to you in the past, and thank Him.
PRAYER: “God, thank You that I can trust You to fulfill Your promises. Grant me faith to keep believing when I struggle.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Joshua 23-24, Judges 1