Joshua 21:43-45

"So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass." (Joshua 21:43-45; NKJV)

1. Jehovah promised to give Abram a land (GEN 12)

2. Jehovah covenanted to give Abram a land with specific boundaries (GEN 15).

3. Jehovah gave the specific land to the descendants of Abraham (JOSH 21).

4. Jehovah keeps His promises.

5. Jehovah keeps His covenants.

Jason Cicero

Wholly

Joshua 14:6-15 records a conversation between Joshua and Caleb that took place 45 years after we are first introduced to Caleb in Numbers 13. Think of what these 2 men had been through together. From Egypt to Mt. Sinai to Kadesh to Canaan, back to Kadesh only to then wander in the wilderness for 40 years, then finally to the promised land.

Joshua and Caleb were able to enjoy this touching moment because they "wholly followed the LORD" (Numbers 32:12; NKJV). They were full up when it came to following Jehovah. They held nothing back from Him.

Answer the call of Jesus: "Follow me..." (Matthew 4:19; NKJV). "Wholly" follow Him, holding nothing back. Allow Him to lead you to "a better, that is, a heavenly country" (Hebrews 11:16; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

The Sun Stands Still

Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel. (Joshua 10:12-14; NKJV)

The day just wouldn't end. The enemies of Jehovah fled for the cover of darkness, but they would find none because He caused the sun to shine longer on that day. "Jehovah is a man of war: Jehovah is His name" (Exodus 15:3; ASV).

The Lesson of the Day: Don't go to war with Jehovah.

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

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Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:15-17; NKJV)

The Commander of the Army of Jehovah

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" Then the Commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua,"Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13-15; NKJV)

Some believe that the "Commander of the army of Jehovah" is The Word of John 1:1-18. Notice that He accepts Joshua's worship. When people attempted to worship angels they were forbidden. Perhaps Joshua saw The Word in the form of Jehovah's soldier.

Jason Cicero

A Prophet Like Moses

"But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, in all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel" (Deuteronomy 34:10-12; NKJV).

Deuteronomy ends by honoring the prophet Moses. It also ends by anticipating the coming of a prophet like Moses. Jehovah will call many prophets after Moses, but there is only one who fulfills the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18:15-18.

"Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities" (Acts 3:24-26; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Be Strong and of Good Courage

In Deuteronomy 31 Moses calls the nation of Israel and Joshua to himself for the purpose of encouraging them to "Be strong and of good courage" (v. 6-7).

"Be Strong" - to strengthen, to prevail, to harden, to be strong, to become strong, to be courageous, to be firm, grow firm, to be resolute, to be sore (Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon).

"Of Good Courage" - to be strong, to be alert, to be courageous, to be brave, to be stout, to be bold, to be solid, to be hard (Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon).

The source of their strength and courage is to be found in Jehovah God and their understanding that He is with them and will not leave them nor forsake them.

Here the encouragement of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant: Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6; NKJV)

Jason Cicero