And Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them: “I am old, advanced in age. 3 You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you. See, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea westward. And the Lord your God will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, as the Lord your God promised you.
As Joshua opens his final speech to the Israelites, he reminds them of God’s amazing faithfulness. Indeed, God had brought them from horrific slavery in Egypt and given them the remarkable land of promise. There was much to be thankful for—God had proven His faithfulness in extraordinary ways.
Think about your journey with God. Like the Israelites, you have been delivered from the destructive bondage of sin, a slavery more eternally devastating than even that experienced by Moses’ people.
And what about the destination? Well, eternity in Heaven sure tops the land of Canaan, but even the earthly road you’re walking today has a lot to celebrate. Yes, the road can be difficult at times, just as it was for Joshua and the people, but the peace, hope, and blessings they searched for are yours because of God’s goodness. Like Joshua, you can proclaim God’s faithfulness, even if you’re not nearing the end of your journey.
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
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