Joshua 20:1-21:45 | "Not One Word Failed"

I. Reading of Scripture

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.

This is God’s Word, Amen.

Pray

II. Introduction

A. Introduction to Theme

“Not one word…failed.”

This is a statement of testimony, telling us something about the character of God.

God is trustworthy. God is dependable. God is reliable. God does what He says He will do.

Some time ago, I was involved in a project that required work to be performed by an attorney. The deadline came and the attorney failed to produce the work that he said he would complete.

I called him to find out why he had not done what he said he would do. His response was a reference to juggling: He said, “Too many balls in the air, and this one fell.”

In other words, he had dropped the ball.

When the Scriptures say in Joshua 21:45 that “Not one word…failed,” the word for “failed” is the Hebrew word [ נָפַל - nāpal ]. It’s a word that means “to fall.”

Literally, the Scriptures say — Not one word of the Lord… “fell.” “Not one word failed (ESV).” “Not one word was left unfulfilled (NET).”

God did not “drop the ball” because God is not a clown juggling a multitude of tasks.

God does not prioritize because he doesn’t need to! He is never too busy or too limited in presence or power to be overwhelmed.

God does not prioritize. Instead, God promises. And when God makes a promise, God keeps His word!

B. Introduction to Text

This text, Joshua 21:43-45, is a summary statement.

It calls to mind God’s promise made to Abraham.

When Abraham was still known as Abram, the LORD appeared to him in Genesis 12 and said:

Genesis 12:1–3 ESV

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

At the age of seventy-five, Abram went as the LORD had told him, taking all of his possessions and came to this land of Canaan (Gen 12:4-5).

Genesis 12:7 ESV

7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

This was God’s promise to Abraham. A promise of land. A covenant promise (Gen 15:17-20) that passed on from generation to generation. God made this promise by swearing an oath to the fathers.

It was this promise that now becomes the focus of this passage because in this passage, that promise to Abraham and the fathers is recorded as fulfilled. Kept.

In this way, this passage is a passage of praise, declaring a confidence that may be placed in God, because God’s promises are not left open-ended and unfulfilled!

Each major section of Joshua has ended with some form of commemoration. An intentional act of remembrance to remind them of God’s promise and fulfillment.

After the people had crossed the Jordan River and CLAIMED the land, do you remember what they did?

At the LORD’s command they took twelve stones out of the Jordan. Twelve stones for each of the twelve tribes.

And Joshua set them up for the benefit of their children. It was a teaching tool to remind future generations that “Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground” because of what the LORD had done for them in drying up the waters.

So that they might know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and that they may fear the LORD their God forever” (Josh 4).

Remember that after this event, the sons of Israel who had been born in the wilderness were circumcised. A covenant renewal took place and Israel kept the Passover and began eating the fruit of the land of Canaan that year (Joshua 5).

Remember that it was after these events that the Commander of the LORD’s Army appeared to Joshua by Jericho with his drawn sword in his hand and said “Now I have come” (Joshua 5).

After the people had CONQUERED the land, there is an account and naming of all the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated (Joshua 12).

It is a long list of names and lands, but they are named and recorded because those names represent the fulfillment of the people and places God had promised to give to Israel — and God did.

Now, at the end of this third major section, Joshua has DIVIDED the land — apportioning out under God’s direction an inheritance to the people. And in dividing the land, Joshua also obeys all God instructed through Moses, setting up cities of refuge and provision for the livestock of the tribe of Levi, the priests.

Nothing is left undone. There is still work to do, and there remains very much land to possess, but all is already given to them in God, and all will be theirs in God, just as God has promised.

In leaving an inheritance for the people, Joshua was ensuring that the people have a tangible way of remembering God’s promises so that as they LIVE in the land, as they SERVE God in the land, they will never forget God and all He has done for them.

It is in this context that our text is given. Three verses that form a summary statement of remembrance, fulfillment and praise.

III. Exposition

A. The LORD gave Land | Joshua 21:43

Joshua 21:43 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.

Notice the preeminent place given to the LORD in these verses. This verse begins with “Thus the LORD gave...”

And in this verse, we are presented with two tensions — A tension of TIME and a tension of RESPONSIBILITY.

First, the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers.

That’s a tension of TIME.

The fulfillment of God’s promise to the fathers was realized NOT by the fathers, but by generations later to come.

The fathers received God’s promise, but did not realize God’s promise in their lifetime.

Abraham had to trust that what God was promising to give him generations later, would come to pass. And the Scriptures say that Abraham believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness (Gen 15:6).

We know what a family tree is. It traces family relationships and a family name for generations. A family tree tells us who we are related to by blood — who we receive our name and DNA from.

We can think of God’s promises in a similar way. But the lines connecting one generation to another with God’s promises are not blood lines, but faith lines.

The reason Israel received the promised land was ultimately because of God’s faithfulness, but it was also because of the faith of their fathers: Abraham’s faith. Isaac’s faith. Jacob’s faith. All of Israel past, present and future is united across all generations as one family by this faith! (see KM).

Many died in the wilderness, but those few that remained had faith. And God brought his promise to fulfillment through faith.

God gave Israel land. It was something real. Something they could touch, build upon and stand in. As Israel stood upon the land, they were standing on more than land — they were standing on God promises, fulfilling what God promised Abraham long before.

Question: What legacy are we leaving in terms of faith? However much or little I have to leave to my children as an inheritance one day, I pray that above all they will know that their Dad and Mom believed God enough to live by faith, so that they may know that they can have faith in God too.

God does have a purpose in this life for each of us. But consider that within that purpose God is passing on promises through you to future generations through faith.

There is a tension of TIME and also a tension of RESPONSIBILITY.

Joshua 21:43 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.

Notice the words: “the LORD gave” and also “they took possession” and “they settled.”

Israel had to conquer, or possess and settle in what God gave to them. There was a work that belonged to God, and a work that belonged to God’s people.

God is absolutely sovereign. Meaning all power and authority belongs to Him! Nothing happens apart from Him! He speaks, and it is so.

And God in His sovereignty gives work for us, as His people to do!

Faith is not an idea. It is not something we sit in. Faith is something we stand in!

Genuine faith works, acting upon God’s Word. Genuine faith has feet to stand on God’s promises and walk in them, step by step!

Genuine faith moves — because God says so!

Can God save our lost neighbors without us? Yes.

But has God given the work of witnessing to us? Yes.

Can God save the unreached people of the world without us? Yes.

But has God given the Great Commission to us? Yes.

Whether it is with worship, prayer, gathering, giving, going, studying, obeying — whatever it is, God does not need us to do anything, but he gives us opportunity to receive his promises and blessings through a faith that acts on His Word!

So God gave land, and Israel possessed and settled the land. But with the land,

B. The LORD gave Rest | Joshua 21:44

Joshua 21:44 ESV

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.

This rest is not the sabbath rest, but it is a rest from war, rest from Israel’s enemies (KM). It is something God secured for His covenant people by God Himself fighting for them (see KM).

It is something Jesus gives:

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

"Not one of all their enemies had withstood them.”

This statement looks back over chapters 6-11, and all of the battles Israel fought.

Even with Ai, when Israel was faithless and defeated at the first, God gave Israel victory when they returned to Him.

By faith, no enemy withstood them.

Meaning by faith they could advance and claim all that was theirs!

C. The LORD’s word came to pass | Joshua 21:45

Joshua 21:45 ESV

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.

God’s word, God’s promises are described as “good.” This is the same word “good” used by God in Genesis 1 to describe his Creation.

This word “good” is not to distinguish God’s good promises from His bad promises. God doesn’t make bad promises. All of God’s promises are good!

Because God IS good!

This verse tells us something of God’s character. God’s good promises flow out of His goodness! His generosity.

And God’s Word is good — whether we like it or not.

If ever we read God’s Word and disagree with what God is instructing, and we feel a tension between what God says and what we want — that tension reveals in us the presence of sin. Sin to confess and repent of.

Sin does not recognize God’s Word for what it is — good.

Sin wants us to set aside God’s word and God’s ways for our own. To ignore God’s Word as being old, or irrelevant, or strict.

But God’s word is good, and God’s good word never fails.

Isaiah 55:11 ESV

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

So when Israel in the days ahead, possess the remaining land, they can do so knowing that God will not go back on His Word to them. God’s goodness represents his name (Ex 33:19). What he promised to them, He will give, as He has already given.

IV. Conclusion

Hebrews 4 speaks of a different kind of rest, not a rest from war but a rest in God - a Sabbath rest for all in Christ.

Hebrews 4:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

This sets the tone for what will come next in Joshua - how the people are to live in the land with God. Worshiping God. Serving God. How the rest from war becomes rest in God.

This is also instructive for us! Because Hebrews says this Sabbath rest is one promise that remains for us, that we can stand in, that we can look forward to with faith!

The promise of entering God’s rest.

But it is a promise that is entered into only as we listen, and are united in faith by what we hear.

A. Gospel Proclamation

What we hear, we hear from God in Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:16 ESV

16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

We who are in Christ are recipients of all of God’s promises, because all of God’s promises find their permanent fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:20(a) ESV

“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.”

Galatians 3:29 ESV

29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

“Standing on the promises, I cannot fall Listening every moment to the Spirit's call Resting in my Savior as my all in all Standing on the promises of God”

God is trustworthy. God is dependable. God is reliable. God does what He says He will do.

God has done all — in Jesus.

B. Application

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV

1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.