Living Room Study

Joshua 21

“So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled there.  The Lord gave them rest on every side according to all He has sworn to their fathers.  None of their enemies were able to stand against them, for the Lord handed over all their enemies to them.  None of the good promises the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed.  Everything was fulfilled.”  Joshua 21: 43-45

How did Israel possess the land?  The bible says that Adonai gave Canaan to Israel, to the condition that Israel was willing to faithfully fight for it.  Yes, Israel fought for the land, but their success was not proportional to their efforts.  God went before them.  Put bluntly, without God, Israel would have been completely wiped-out the day they left Egypt…pre Red Sea. 

Joshua wanted to make the point of “God’s victory” abundantly clear.  The inheritance of Canaan originated from, and was fully established by: God.  Israel’s “shabbat” from their enemies was the result of God’s grace, not Israel’s righteousness, or Joshua’s leadership. 

This is a point Israel seemed to have forgotten in later years, because the writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews noted:

“For if Joshua had given them rest, He (Messiah) would not have spoken later about another day.  A Sabbath rest remains (awaits), therefore for God’s people.  For the person who has entered into His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His.  Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.”  Heb 4: 8-11

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your rest.  Matthew 11: 28

Why was Israel allowed to inherit the land?  It was because God is faithful to fulfill His promise.

“For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in Messiah, Jesus, therefore the “Amen!” is also through Him for God’s glory through us.”  2 Corinthians 1: 20

“Amen” means: the affirmation of truth. 

Do you want to be saved from the consequences of your sin?  Salvation is affirmed in Messiah.  Are you looking for rest from “the enemy”?  Rest is found in Him.  Do you desire the hope of God’s promise to never leave or forsake His children?  Fulfillment is found in Jesus.

“Shabbat Shalom”, the peace of God’s rest, is offered to all who would faithfully seize it!  Matthew 11:12

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins