DAY 82
PROMISES KEPT
Joshua 13, 14 & 15 and Luke 1:57-80
The readings from Joshua are rather long and seemingly a bit
tedious. They contain many names and much detail regarding which tribe of
Israel will get what portion of the Land. Whenever I come across God devoting
that kind of space to something in the Bible I tend to “lean into” it and
ponder just why it is so important.
The dividing up of the Promised Land is God taking the next step
in fulfilling His Promise. It is not that Joshua has secured this land. In fact
he is getting old, and God says that He, God, will do it. He also instructs
them to divide the land as an inheritance. It is a little like knowing what you
parents “last will and testament” says while they are still alive. Caleb even
points out that he had been promised a “bit” and God grants it.
I sense the reason God is doing this, and the reason so much space
is devoted to it in Scripture, is to bear witness to God’s faithfulness – God keeps
His promises. In this case the Promise of giving them the land and establishing
them as His People.
The same principle is at work in the New Testament, and in reality
it is the continuation of God’s Promise, God’s Covenant. God is determined to
restore humankind unto Himself – to have us be His people. He will do whatever
it takes; even His sending His Son to earth. I am not sure if you celebrate
what the Church calls Holy Week. We start it Sunday with “Palm Sunday: The
Sunday of the Passion”. It is the week where we, through our church services
(our liturgies) re-enter the climax of God’s plan – the death and resurrection of
His Son. We do this to plant deeply in ourselves the knowledge of God’s
faithfulness. We do this in order to worship Him.
Zechariah knows that at the birth of his son, John the Baptist,
that they are beginning something remarkable and so he cries out: “Blessed by the Lord God of Israel, for he
has visited and redeemed his people…” (Luke 1:68). Zechariah knew the story.
He knew that someday God would send the Messiah.
God is still in the business of keeping His Promises for He is
faithful. What are his promises? You have been reading them these past 82 days.
Still it can be helpful to have a list! You can “Google “God’s Promises”” and
you will get all sorts of list. Here is one link that is pretty good. It is
from a blog site named “Sticky Jesus” – I love that.
The point of today’s readings is not only that God is faithful,
but that those who were following him knew it, and counted on it. The knowledge
and belief in God’s faithfulness led Caleb to bring up what he had been
promised, and it led Zechariah to cry out in praise. That is a good lesson for
me – to make sure I plant God’s promises deeply inside me – to always have them
as a source of strength.
I trust that you are not giving a quiz on villages and towns.
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