Closer To Heaven
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Comments of the Week December 8-14 “Maybe they can drop 25,000 copies of TGC out of a helicopter over a small town?” –Robert Thomas on What’s Our Marketing Strategy? Comments on The Myth of Good Christian Parenting, Newbold College Student Earns Second Place in an International Preaching Award, Should Preachers Quote Ellen White?, and Aunty, […] Source: https://atoday.org/comments-of-the-week-dec8-14/
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.
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With so many wonderful promises before us, why do we still find it so easy to sin? |
Daily Lesson for Sunday 14th of December 2025
In Joshua 21:43-45, what picture does the book paint of God? How do these words apply not only to the historical Promised Land but also to the reality of our salvation (2 Timothy 2:11-13)?
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).
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How does God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises give us confidence that none of His promises for the future will fail? (See 1 Corinthians 10:13 and 2 Corinthians 1:18-20.) |
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For 50 years, progressive Adventism has been most notable for its investigation, research, critique, and deconstruction. But making note of the problems isn’t enough. We at Adventist Today believe it is time for progressive Adventism to move on, which means envisioning a positive potential future for our beloved church—a vision of Adventism for today and tomorrow. At our November […] Source: https://atoday.org/adventism-for-today-and-tomorrow/
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 13th of December 2025
Image © Pacific Press
Memory Text:“Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass” (Joshua 21:45, ESV).
When John F. Kennedy addressed the United States at his inauguration, on January 20, 1961, his speech was only 1,366 words, but it left an indelible mark on the American mind. As he encouraged his country to focus on their responsibilities instead of their privileges, he said: “With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”
As Joshua, the aging leader of the Israelites, sensed that he was nearing the end of his life, he decided to address the leaders of the nation and the Israelites (Joshua 23:1-16 and 24). Joshua 23:1-16 is focused more on the future and on how to worship God—exclusively. Joshua 24:1-33 reviews God’s faithful acts in the past, with the purpose to prompt a decision concerning who alone deserves to be worshiped: Yahweh.
This week, we will study together the first speech of Joshua, in which he glances back at the victories of Israel but at the same time traces the path of future success for Israel.
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Intercer is a website with biblical materials in Romanian, English, Hungarian and other languages. We want to bring the light from God's Word to peoples homes. Intercer provides quality Christian resources...[Read More]
