Joshua 21:41-45: a reflection

41All the cities of the Levites among the possessions of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their pasture lands. 42Each of these cities included their pasture lands around them. It was this way with all these cities. 43So the LORD gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers. They possessed it, and lived in it. 44The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that he swore to their fathers. Not a man of all their enemies stood before them. The LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45Nothing failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.

This passage marks the completion of God's promise to give Israel the land. After the long years of slavery, wilderness, and conquest, the land is theirs; and the writer sums it up with a sweeping statement of God's faithfulness: The LORD gave them rest all around; not one of all their enemies stood before them. And then this remarkable line: Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.

Notice the totality of that summary: not one word failed; all came to pass. God had made many promises over many years, and now, looking back, the writer can say that every single one had been kept, none had fallen to the ground, all had come true. God's faithfulness was not partial, keeping most of his promises while some quietly lapsed; it was complete. Every good word he had spoken, he had made good.

That is the kind of God whose promises we can trust. God does not keep most of his word while letting some of it fail; not one of his good promises falls to the ground. Looking back over your own life, you may be able to trace, as Israel could, the ways God has kept his word, in provision, in guidance, in help along the way. And the promises not yet fulfilled, the promises of his continued presence, his final salvation, his making all things new, rest on the same complete faithfulness. Trust the God of whom it can be said that not one of his good promises has failed. Look back and give thanks for his kept word, and trust him with the promises still ahead, for the God who kept every word to Israel will keep his every word to you.

Lord, when you had given Israel the land, it could be said that not one word of all your good promises had failed; all came to pass. Thank you that this is the kind of God you are. You do not keep most of your word while letting some of it fail; not one of your good promises falls to the ground. Looking back over my own life, help me trace, as Israel could, the ways you have kept your word, in provision, in guidance, in help along the way. And help me trust that the promises not yet fulfilled, of your continued presence, your final salvation, your making all things new, rest on the same complete faithfulness. Help me trust the God of whom it can be said that not one of his good promises has failed. Let me look back and give thanks for your kept word, and trust you with the promises still ahead, for you who kept every word to Israel will keep your every word to me.