THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD, THE PROMISE-KEEPER, IN EVERY DETAIL

Text: Joshua 18:1-6; 20:1-9; 21:43-45.

God knows the end from the beginning; He knows the eternal future from the eternal past and does not need to revise and review whatever He says because He knew what He was saying before He said it. Faithfulness is one of the attributes of God that cannot be taken away, He is the Promise Keeper. “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.” (Joshua 18:1). The land was subdued before the children of Israel as God had promised them. Today, we have the promises and plan of God, we must depend on His power, His presence, and the fulfilment of the prophecies He has given us as we take His word to the world. When we do what God has said we should do, we can expect Him to do what He has said He will do. All that the Lord has said concerning your life, family, and the church will come to pass because God is always there to give us the confirmation that He will perform everything He said He will perform.

1.      THE FAILURE AND SLACKNESS OF ADVANCING POSSESSORS

Joshua 18:1-4.

• The Slackness of the People of Israel – Joshua 18:3-4; 15:63; 16:10; 17:12-13; Zephaniah 3:16-20.  Joshua was old and stricken in years, yet he was not slack. Slackness is not a consequence of age; it is a consequence of habit formed by being absentminded and unbelieving of God’s promises.  God told the children of Israel to drive out their enemies and possess their lands, but they had the slackness of unbelief and slackness of abandoning the commandment and commissioning of the Lord and going their own way. As we look at the commission the Lord has given us, we have the slackness of forgetfulness if we pass the people by without preaching the gospel to them.  Christ has paid the price for the salvation of the whole world and God has given us promises, therefore, we should not be slack but go forward and get the victory.

• The Search for the Remaining Seven Parts of the Inheritance – Joshua 18:46; Numbers 13:2; Joshua 18:8-9; 23:4.  Joshua sent the people to go and search out their unpossessed inheritance and report back to him for him to divide the land unto them as commanded by God. “Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.” (Joshua 23:4). As the Lord challenged Joshua, so Joshua challenged the people. Joshua did not abdicate his responsibilities or give excuses. As we do what God has called us to do, His grace, anointing, and power will be sufficient for us. You will not have the supply, grace, sufficiency, and power of God to do what the Lord assigned for you to do. When you keep yourself, your mind, and your energy on what the Lord has committed into your hands to do, whatever your age or circumstances, you will overcome in Jesus Name.
• (iii) The Sharing of their Possession with Impartiality – Joshua 18:5, 10; 19:5; 23:4-6; 1 Timothy 5:21. If we are going to be impartial in ministry, in dealing with people, in giving opportunities to people, and in giving the right of every one to each one, we have to bring back the nature of the Lord Himself to our lives. Ministers should be appointed based on their spiritual qualifications, not by tribalism. We must live, work, serve, and lead with impartiality. Whatever we do as representatives of Christ, we must do it as Christ would do it—without partiality.

2.      THE REFUGE OF SHELTER FROM THE AVENGING PURSUER

Joshua 20:1-9.

• The Sanctuary of Protection for the Innocent – Joshua 20:1-6; Psalm 9:9, 17; Numbers 35:6,9-13; Deuteronomy 33:25-27.  The cities of refuge were for those who mistakenly killed any man; such an act is not regarded as murder but manslaughter. There is still a level of discomfort for the manslayer because it was not premeditated, and he is innocent. Carelessness still brings suffering even if the act was unintentional. “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” (Psalms 9:9). When we get into trouble, we can run to God Who is our city of refuge with eternal promises and He will protect us in Jesus Name. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalms 9:17). The same God Who is a Refuge for the believer, the repentant, and the penitent will turn the wicked who refuse to repent into hell.

• The Suffering of Profligates Sinning with Impunity – Exodus 21:13-14; Numbers 15:30-31; Psalm 19:13; Hebrews 10:26-31. The city of refuge and God’s protection is not for those who habitually sin. “And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.” (Exodus 21:1314). “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” (Psalms 19:13). Presumptuous and premeditated sin is a great transgression. There are those who falsely claim that there is no punishment for sin in the New Testament because of grace. Those who reject the grace of God and continue in their sins will be condemned. God will not only judge the heathen, but He will judge His people as well.

• The Shelter Under our High Priest from all Indignation – Hebrews 6:18-20; Titus 1:2; Romans 3:23-26; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. Christ is our High Priest, and as we look at Calvary, we must surrender and submit to the Saviour who gave His life to ransom us and live in conformity to Him who loves us so much. . God cannot lie, and He has promised salvation to the repentant, penitent and prodigal who returns to Him. Those who are prodigal, rebellious, and profligate in sins are dead in sins and trespasses. “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” (Titus 1:2). God is the eternal, faithful, Promise Keeper; He has promised us eternal life, and He cannot lie.

3.      THE FAITHFULNESS AND SOVEREIGNTY OF THE ALMIGHTY PROMISOR

Joshua 21:43-45.

God has promised, and He is faithful and almighty with the power to do what He has promised us. “And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” (Joshua 21:43-45). 

• The Fulness of the Heavenly Promise-Keeper – Joshua 21:43-45; Numbers 23:1923; Psalm 89:34-37; Isaiah 55:10-11. As Balaam could not reverse the blessing of the eternal God, Satan his master will not reverse any promise the Lord has given you. A church that is holy will be a church that is healthy, powerful, and unconquerable but when Satan and the people of the world bring in sin, confusion, conflict, fighting and carnality, the church will no longer be holy and there will be destruction. We will not be destroyed in Jesus Name. The Lord was on the side of Israel because He did not behold iniquity in them.

• The Faithfulness of the Holy People-Keeper – Genesis 28:13; Joshua 14:10-12; Deuteronomy 32:10-11; Revelation 3:10-12. God keeps the promise and keeps the people; He keeps the people for the promise and keeps the promise for the people. The Lord will fulfil His promise to you and the church until the rapture in Jesus Name. “And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” (Genesis 28:15).

• The Fruitfulness of the Honest Precept-Keepers – Genesis 22:16-18; Psalm 119:4, 15, 27, 56, 63, 104, 128; Jeremiah 35:18-19; Jude 1:21,24-25. As we keep God’s word and precepts, we are going to be fruitful in life, ministry, and family. The path of obedience leads to multiplied and multiple blessings in every area of our lives. When we turn to the Lord, cherish the holiness that He cherishes, and live in the abiding and continuing holiness by the grace of God, the blessings of God will abide, continue, and be permanent in our lives in Jesus Name.