Joshua 21 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“So the L_rd gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The L_rd 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 L_rd handed over all their enemies to them. None of the good promises the L_rd 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, on 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. G_d went before them. Put bluntly, without G_d, Israel would have been completely wiped-out the day they left Egypt…pre-Red Sea.

Joshua wanted to make the point of “G_d’s victory” abundantly clear. The inheritance of Canaan originated from, and was fully established by: G_d. Israel’s “shabbat” from their enemies was the result of G_d’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 B’rit HaDashah (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 G_d’s people. For the person who has entered into His rest has rested from his own works, just as G_d 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.” Hebrews 4:8-11

Yeshua 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 G_d is faithful to fulfill His promise.

“For every one of G_d’s promises is “Yes” in Messiah Yeshua, therefore the “Amen!” is also through Him for G_d’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 G_d’s promise to never leave or forsake His children? Fulfillment is found in Yeshua.

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

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins
Daily Devotional, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014