We have been looking at Joshua 13-21 for the past several days.
It is in these chapters that the twelve tribes received their inheritance that
had been promised to them by Moses in the Law. Chapters 13-17 took place at Gilgal
where Joshua and the elders cast lots and distributed the land to five of the
tribes. In chapters 18-19, Joshua moved the tabernacle to Shiloh where he surveyed
the rest of the land and distributed it to the remaining seven tribes. In chapter
20, Joshua announced the “cities of refuge” where the manslayer could flee to
from the avenger in case of an accidental death. And in chapter 21, Joshua appointed
the forty-eight cities and surrounding land that the priestly tribe of Levites
were to dwell in.
The very last three verses (vv. 43-45) of this long section
in the Book of Joshua closes with three wonderful affirmations that should
greatly encourage us today! The Christian life is not a bed of roses. Jesus had
told His disciples that while they are in this world they would encounter
tribulation but to be of good cheer because He had overcome the world (John
16:33). Paul reminded Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:3-4 that the Christian life is
warfare and that he “must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that
he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
Paul closed this letter to Timothy by saying, “For I am
already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is
at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6-7). Paul told the Ephesian church that they were
to put on the whole armor of God as they wrestled with the world, the flesh,
and the devil, in spiritual warfare! (Ephesians 6:10-18).
We must not be dismayed or discouraged as we have more mountains
to climb and giants to conquer in our daily walk with Jesus in this world. Read
these three affirmations of Joshua carefully as he reminded the twelve tribes
of what the Lord had done for them!
First, God was faithful and gave Israel the land! So the
LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their
fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. (Joshua 21:43). God
kept the covenant that He made, first with Abraham and then with his
descendants. Genesis 12:7, “Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said,
"To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an
altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.”
Second, God gave Israel victory over all their enemies and
then gave them the rest from war! “The LORD gave them rest all around,
according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their
enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their
hand.” (Joshua 21:44; see 1:13, 15; 11:23). What the ten unbelieving spies
at Kadesh Barnea said could never happen did happen, because Joshua and the
people believed God and obeyed His Word.
Third, God kept His promises! “Not a word failed of any
good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.”
(Joshua 21:45). At the close of his life Joshua would remind the people of this
promise again in Joshua 23:14. Solomon must have had these verses in mind and reminded
people of this promise when he dedicated the temple in 1 Kings 8:56. "Blessed
be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He
promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He
promised through His servant Moses.”
Today, as the people of God, we can claim these assurances
by faith. God's covenant with us is not going to fail; God's power and wisdom
can give us victory over every foe; and God's promises can be trusted, no
matter what the circumstances may be. The covenant of God, the power of God,
the promises of God, these are the spiritual resources we can depend on as we
claim our inheritance in Jesus Christ.
God bless!
