Again, much of today’s reading is about geography and how Canaan —its lands and cities — was divided up among the tribes of Israel. But there’s this really neat observation that’s made in the last verse of chapter 21: “Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:45, NAS95.

God is just that way. When He makes a promise it really does come to pass; He makes it so. No one was able to ultimately stand before Israel with Joshua at their helm. Even the “defeat” at Ai was only a temporary set back, until Achan’s sin was taken care of. And so it will be for us.

“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:33-39, NAS95.

We need to take these promises to heart and bank on them. When God makes a promise, it’s better than gold, better than any guarantee in writing you’ll ever receive. The only “x-factor” is — us. So believe, step out in faith, obey, follow through; we can’t lose with the Lord backing us!

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.