Daily Lesson for Monday 15th of December 2025

The glorious conclusion of the whole section (Joshua 21:43-45) carries within it the fulfilled condition of obedience. Success is never to be taken for granted; it is always linked to obedience to God’s Word. Thus, the allotment of the land, besides being the token of God’s faithfulness to Israel (Nehemiah 9:8), creates space for an open-ended future development based on Israel’s attitude. Will Israel be able to secure what has been achieved?

Image © Kevin Carden from GoodSalt.com

Joshua’s speech moves from the old and aged speaker (emphasized twice) to the audience who will have to carry on the mission entrusted to them by God. He describes how the conquest of the land was possible: the Lord fought for them. Even though, because of their unfaithfulness and disbelief, the Israelites had to be involved in warfare after the Exodus, it was not through their military power but through God’s intervention that they managed to possess the land.

God has given rest to Israel from its enemies, but there are some nations left that still have to be dispossessed. Victory is not an accomplished, unchangeable reality for Israel but an ever-present possibility by constant reliance in faithfulness on God’s available help.

The victories of the Israelites could not be attributed to their strength and strategy. Similarly, spiritual victory over sin and temptation have been secured through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but God’s people today must constantly rely on the spiritual supplies provided by the Holy Spirit in order to live a triumphant life.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25d-12-a-sign-of-concern/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=25d-12-a-sign-of-concern

Daily Lesson for Sunday 14th of December 2025

These verses constitute the climax of the book and its theological summary. They highlight one of the major themes of the whole book: the covenant faithfulness of Yahweh, who keeps His promises and fulfills His oaths. This short section also summarizes the entire content of the book so far. Joshua 21:43 speaks of the allocation and settlement of the land (Joshua 13:1-33; Joshua 14:1-15; Joshua 15:1-63; Joshua 16:1-10; Joshua 17:1-18; Joshua 18:1-28; Joshua 19:1-51; Joshua 20:1-9; Joshua 21:1-45), while Joshua 21:44 refers to victories won over the enemies and control gained over the land (Joshua 1:1-18; Joshua 2:1-24; Joshua 3:1-17; Joshua 4:1-24; Joshua 5:1-15; Joshua 6:1-27; Joshua 7:1-26; Joshua 8:1-35; Joshua 9:1-27; Joshua 10:1-43; Joshua 11:1-23; Joshua 12:1-24). All this retrospective is viewed through the prism of God’s faithfulness. The Israelites must always remember that they can never claim the victories over their enemies or the land as their inheritance—except through God’s loyalty to His given word.

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

He gave “all the land” (Joshua 21:43, NKJV, emphasis supplied), delivered “all their enemies into their hand” (Joshua 21:44, NKJV, emphasis supplied), and according to “all that He had sworn” (Joshua 21:44, NKJV, emphasis supplied), “all came to pass” (Joshua 21:45, NKJV, emphasis supplied). The repeated use of the word kol, “all,” six times in three verses (Joshua 21:43-45), emphasizes once again the truth that the land is the gift of Yahweh, and Israel can take no credit for receiving it. It was the Lord who swore to “give” the land and who “had given” their enemies into their hands.

All Israel’s success has to be attributed solely to God’s divine initiative and trustworthiness. This is equally true concerning our salvation: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV).

Indeed, emphasizing God’s faithfulness, Paul also wrote: “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:11-13, ESV).

<–Sabbath Monday–>

(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25d-12-all-came-to-pass/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=25d-12-all-came-to-pass