God’s Big Story: Then by God’s power the land they took, but then, their good God they forsook (Joshua 21:43-45; 1 Samuel 8:7-8)

God created all that is. Therefore, all that is is His (Genesis 1-2).

Adam and Eve wanted to be their own; Rebellion in their hearts was sown (Genesis 3:1-3).

Judgment to the snake God spoke, And hope in Adam’s heart awoke (Genesis 3:9; 14-19).

So, “mother of the living,” he named his wife, For her seed is the source of life (Genesis 3:20-24).

People never did do good, but God saved Noah at the flood (Genesis 6-9)

Land, Seed, and Blessing God promised to Abram, and the nations, also would be blessed in him (Genesis 12: 2-3; 15:5-6)

From Egypt God His People saved, and at Sinai, the Law He gave (Exodus 7-14; 20:1-3)

Then by God’s power the land they took, but then, their good God they forsook (Joshua 11:23; 21:43-45; 1 Samuel 8:7-8)

The Land of Promise: Our Heritage in Christ

In Joshua 11:23, we see the culmination of God's promise to Israel as they conquer Canaan, a land flowing with blessings. Joshua 21:43-45 underscores that the Lord granted them rest on every side, reinforcing His faithfulness. Together, these passages illustrate that God’s promises are not just historical but serve as a template for understanding our spiritual inheritance through Christ.

God is a faithful promise keeping God whom you can trust.

Conquest Confirmed: God's Promise Fulfilled (Joshua 11:23)

Joshua 11:23 ESV

23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.

God promised Abraham that his descendants would have a land flowing with milk and honey; that is it would be peaceful and prosperous. Through Moses God rescued them from Egypt, gave them his laws, and they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. The story of Joshua picks up just after Moses has died, and the new generation is ready to enter the land of Canaan.

In chapters 1-5, Joshua is appointed as a new leader, as a new Moses. He calls the people to obey the Torah, just as Moses did. He also sends spies into the land of Canaan just as Moses did in Numbers 13-14. This time it goes much better and the people are ready to enter the Promised Land. Joshua leads the people across the Jordan River. And just like the people crossed the Red Sea on dry land in the Exodus, so the Jordan River divides, and Joshua leads his people on dry land.

In chapter 5, the people look back as God’s people. They circumcisize the men to renew their covenant and they celebrate the first Passover. Joshua has a strange encounter with a warrior angel. Joshua asks the angel if he is on the side of Israel or their enemies. Oddly enough, the angel responds, neither. The reason for this is the conquest is not about Israel being victorious as it is about Israel beholding God fight their battles and win for his namesake and their good. Israel is not the hero. God is the hero. The first two battles proves this point.

The first battle Israel encounters is with Jericho. Joshua sends spies into the city. Rahab the prostitute helps the spies and they promise her that she and her family will be safe as long as they remain faithful to Israel. Then God has Israel put the ark of the covenant in front as they march around the city of Jericho seven times with no music or shouting. They were to simply march quietly. On the seventh day, God told the people to shout as loud as they could, and God would deliver the city into their hands. God forbid Israel to plunder the city of Jericho. Sure enough, as they shouted, the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Everything was devoted to the Lord. God is the one who will deliver his people. Israel simply needs to trust and wait.

The very next battle is for the city of Ai. Now there was this man names Achan. He did not listen to God and stole silver and jewelry from Jericho. When Israel went into battle for the city of Ai, they were overwhelmingly defeated. Its only after humble repentance and dealing with Achan was Israel able to defeat the city of Ai. The point once again is, Israel must trust God to deliver them from the hands of their enemies, and one way you show trust is through obedience.

Aside from the Gibeonites, the rest of the Canaanites of the remaining fifteen cities all fall to Israel. God works decisively for Israel’s good, keeping his promise to give them a good and prosperous land.

Form this point on, Joshua divides up the land for the twelve tribes of Israel, showing how God kept his promise to Abraham (Genesis 12) and his children. And so we read,

Joshua 11:23 ESV

23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.

Joshua’s completion of the conquest of Canaan illustrates God’s faithfulness to His promises. One thing you can take home with you is, because God is a faithful promise keeping God, you can trust in God’s power to fulfill His promises in your own life.

Look back into the book of Genesis, when God made a covenant with Abraham, promising him countless descendants, despite his old age and childlessness. Years passed, and Abraham faltered in faith, but God remained true to His promise. When Isaac was born, it was a profound reminder that God does not forget His pledges. God’s unwavering promise-keeping nature is good for all who dare to trust Him.

Covenant Completed: God's Rest Given (Joshua 21:43-45)

God did not just keep his promsie to given them a good and prosperous land. He gave the land rest and blessing for Israel. Joshua 21:43-45

Joshua 21:43–45 ESV

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.

The verbs truly unlock the beauty of this paragraph! “The LORD gave … the land” (v. 43). “The LORD gave them rest” (v. 44a). “The LORD had given all their enemies into their hands” (v. 44b). Not a single promise “failed” (v. 45). These phrases highlight God’s powerful actions, which have been a comforting theme throughout the story. Everything relies on Him. However, we also see how each blessing from God has touched the everyday lives of His people. “They took possession of it, and they settled there” (v. 43). “Not one of all their enemies had withstood them” (v. 44). All of God’s promises “came to pass” (v. 45). These key messages beautifully illustrate the book’s central themes of God’s promises and the people’s inheritance, beautifully aligned in their receiving of the land. It might seem that this final paragraph is overwhelmingly positive, but the repeated mention of “the LORD” (Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God) serves as a gentle reminder that any future disappointments are due to Israel’s own struggles with faith, rather than any shortcoming in God’s plans or capabilities. And the best part? He is unchanging! (David Jackman PTW Joshua)

What does trusting God’s promise keeping nature look like in your life?

It looks like a farmer.

In the late 1800s, a severe drought struck the plains of Kansas. Farmers, losing hope, cried out to God for rain. One farmer, however, remained steadfast. He tilled his land and prepared for planting, convinced God would keep His promise. When rain finally came, that farmer harvested a bumper crop, a testament to unwavering faith in a promise-keeping God. Just like this farmer, when you trust God’s promises, you cultivate a hopeful tomorrow amidst your present droughts.

Jesus our conqueror and covenant

The conquest of Joshua and the faithfulness of God to keep his promise to Abraham and his descendants, reaches far beyond a piece of land in the Middle East. For the story of the conquest foreshadow the ultimate promise of salvation and inheritance in Christ. Just as Israel entered a physical land of promise, believers today enter a spiritual reality in Christ, who offers a new covenant that fulfills all of God's promises. In Christ, we find our true rest and inheritance, for we are joint heirs with Him.

Romans 8:16–17 ESV

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Jesus is our great conqueror. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death to atone for your sin. God raised him from the dead and seated him at His right hand. Jesus sin, death, and judgement so he can bring you into new covenant with God, a covenant that is sealed by his own perfect blood. You enter this new covenant by repenting of your sin and accepting Jesus’ offer of salvation by faith. Those who call upon the Lord will be saved, and you will be adopted as children of God, and co-heirs with Christ of a new and eternal inheritance in heaven.

If you have repented of your sin and put your faith in Christ, you are a new creation, a son or daughter of the living God. You should reflect on your new identity as heirs of God's promises. Being an heir of God’s promise should encourage you to live confidently in the inheritance Christ secured for them, understanding that your struggles and challenges can be overcome through God’s promise keeping strength.

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

As you read the end of Joshua, you realize that Israel’s spirit is willing but their flesh is weak. They have allowed some of the Canaanites to live among them, which means they have not followed God’s command to irradiate the land completely. The Canaanites are going to become a snare to Israel’s faith, and they will eventually forsake God.

This helps me to remember that I cannot serve God and sin. I cannot give some of my life to Jesus, while trying to live by the passions of the flesh. God requires all of me to be devoted to him, and rightfully so. He has committed all of himself to me. God is so committed to me living with him forever, he gave his one and only Son to die on my behalf. Therefore, I cannot be like Israel and allow something in my life that will hinder me from loving Jesus with a single minded heart united loyal love. Do not forsake God by only giving him part of your life. God requires all of your life.