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.
Observation:
Hundreds of years before this GOD had spoken to a man named Abraham. HE told him to get up and leave the land that he lived in. That HE was going to make him into a great nation. At almost 100 years old that still had not happened yet. At this point and time, Abraham was gathered to his people, and a few generations passed. But GOD had spoken something and it was going to happen. At this point, in the scripture, we have seen a lot of things happen…Abraham had a son. Even though it looked impossible GOD made it happen just like HE promised. That son had more sons which gave birth to a group of people called the nation of Israel today GOD’s promise…HE told Abraham HE would make him into a great nation. Well, HE did. We see in this scripture that GOD does what HE says HE will do. Joshua and Caleb and the rest of GOD’s chosen people were beneficiaries of GOD’s promise to Abraham, and why…because GOD will do what HE says HE will do.
Application:
What has GOD spoken to you? Is it something that looks like it couldn’t happen? Are you getting older now and still no real sign of progress in that direction? Well, don’t give up hope. If HE spoke it to you it will happen. Abraham believed what GOD had said and he took action on it therefore even though he never got to see it through. The promise that GOD spoke to you might be for generations after you. Maybe you are just supposed to lay the groundwork for chains to be broken in future generations. Just hold on to the promise that HE spoke. It may not be easy and you may want to help GOD out at some point. Don’t. GOD is more capable of fulfilling HIS promise the you will ever be. Just take the next right step, and know that GOD has a plan. HIS promises are yes and amen, and honestly if you try to help you are just going to mess something up. Just saying. The other point is you may only see a small part of the promise start to happen Abraham was given Isaac…that’s a far cry from a nation as numerous as the stars in the sky. However, look at what came of the son of the promise. Don’t give up don’t let go. GOD is doing something that is going to outlast you and reach into your family line so deep that chains will forever be broken. That chain of divorce…broken that chain of addiction…broken that chain of depression…broken that chain of anxiety…broken whatever GOD has promised you hold on to it tell you are no longer on earth because it will happen. It just may be for the next generation.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you are not slack in your promises. If you say it…it will happen. We just want to rest in that help us to see that you are a GOD who does what HE says HE will do. We know that you don’t think small. We do and it’s hard to wrap our minds around how big you really are because we only see the right now and you see it all the way through. We pray this morning that you continue to give us hope. Let us have a little glimpse of the promise. Give us the Isaac moment so we know that our path is not in vain. We want to run only the race that you have set before us. We want to stay focused on your promise you are not a small GOD and your promises will happen. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray amen