READ Joshua 21–24
This reading begins with describing the cities and land given to the priests and Levites with portions coming from each of the other tribes. Some were large, others small. It gave me a picture of how God’s people are today, even though this may not have been the intent of the author. In our world, Christians vary in their commitment to the Lord. Some are ‘sold out’ to follow Him fervently. Others less so. Some pray or serve with every spare moment; others are more occupied with work, family, friends, and fun. This is not to say this was true in the OT, just that my thoughts went there.
Interesting too is the response of those who went into the land to the three tribes Moses allowed to stay on the east side of Jordan. These helped the others gain victory over their enemies, but did not stay with them. They remind me of those who profess faith in Christ, have evidence that their faith is genuine, but they are far from being ‘sold out’ to serve God. Just as the OT people in the land were confused and even angry with these who did not join them, those in similar roles today struggle to understand what is going on and may even consider these who hold back are not even God’s people at all.
The most appealing part of these chapters are the promises and commands that God makes concerning His people. This encourages me to ‘hang in there’ as trials come to test my faith. For example, Joshua explains:
Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. The Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord your God promised you. Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day. For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you. (Joshua 23:4–13)
The Lord then reviewed their history beginning with their delivery from Egypt (salvation) to their possession of the land. He describes how He gave them “a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.” (Joshua 24:13)
They vowed to serve God and forsake all other gods, yet did not realize their helplessness to keep such promises, but they persisted, at least until Joshua died.
I used these chapters to pray for myself, other Christians, my family and any who sit on the fence or who are still in Egypt or captivated by false teacher and idols. The verses that give me much assurance came from the end of chapter 21:
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.
God makes promises like these: “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children” (Isaiah 54:13) and “Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.” (Proverbs 11:21) and tells me He is “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)
Thank You, Jesus for such precious promises. May I cling to them and to You.
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