This year I am once again going through the Bible chronologically, and I recently finished the book of Joshua. Joshua is one of my favorite Bible characters and so I very much appreciated the opportunity to read through the whole book again.
In Joshua, we see that the children of Israel finally get to enter the promised land. And we also see how God continued to work in amazing ways on behalf of his people and according to his plan. That is so encouraging. I am also always inspired by how Joshua follows diligently what God has told him to do. We see Joshua’s obedience throughout the book, but it is summed up well in 11:15. There we are told that, “As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.” Every time I read it, it is a reminder to me of how I am to follow God completely. I can’t pick and choose. I can’t do things half-baked.
As I read through the book this year though, what really stood out to me was Joshua 23:14. There, Joshua says to the people, “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”
The children of Israel went through a number of challenges even after they crossed over into the promised land. It wasn’t like the land was vacant and a welcome mat was left on the west side of the Jordan River for them as they arrived. But by the time Joshua was about to die, looking back through all he had been through with the people, he was able to say, “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed.” God had proved himself to them once again, beyond a shadow of a doubt.
In some ways, over the last few weeks it seems like we have crossed over into a different land and are now facing a number of new challenges in several different respects. 2020 is sure not what I had anticipated. And maybe the situation we find ourselves in right now even has you concerned.
One way or another, I think we can take heart from the book of Joshua today. First of all, as God tells us in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Then let’s be diligent to do all he tells us to, and be watching for him as he keeps his promises to us. And, like the children of Israel, I am confident we too will be able to say, “Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”