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Joshua Chapter 21 (ESV)

⁴¹ The cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the people of Israel were in all forty-eight cities with their pasturelands. ⁴² These cities each had its pasturelands around it. So it was with all these cities.

⁴³ 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. ⁴⁴ 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. ⁴⁵ Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.

REFLECTION:

This passage concludes the first two main sections of the book, the conquest and the division of the land. God had proven Himself the faithful God who had not forgotten any of the promises made to the patriarchs or Moses. Moreover, God had also given the people “rest on every side” (v44). In principle, everything promised had come to pass.

God has accomplished all that He has promised the Israelites in bringing them in the Promised Land. Do you think God always do what He promised? What promises of God do you have?

How does faith differ from wishful thinking? Why should we expect God to answer our prayers, to provide us with food and clothing, or to be involved in jobs or family? How do we know our faith isn’t simply foolishness?

Scripture tells us that true faith must be grounded in God’s promises. If God has promised to do something, then we can trust Him wholeheartedly. If He has not promised to do something, then all the faith in the world won’t make it happen.

PRAYER:

Invite the Holy Spirit to remove any obstacle in you so that you may see God’s unfailing love and praise with the Psalmist in Ps 73:25-26.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.