Joshua 21:45; 22:4: “Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. . . . And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers . . . therefore turn now and go to your tents, to the land of your possession.”
Observation: The heads of the Levitical households approached Eleazar the priest and Joshua to remind them that God had promised that they would be given cities in which to live and land where their cattle could be grazed. In response, all the tribes of Israel contributed to the support of the Levites as God had commanded.
Application: These verses paint a compellingly attractive picture of the future. Over a period of many years, the people had accepted all the assignments God had given them. They had overcome every enemy because they consistently responded in obedience when God directed them to act. And now they would be able to enjoy the fruit of that obedience. They could enter into rest as Joshua sent them to their homes and families. They had experienced the reality of verse 45, with not one of the good promises of the Lord failing to come to pass.
Oh, how I want that fruit in my life! I was struck by the statement that they should return to their tents to enjoy all those good promises of the Lord.
My earthly body is referred to as a tent in the New Testament, a temporary, fragile dwelling when compared to the magnificent, glorious, permanent dwelling that Christ Himself has built for the eternal pleasure and rest of the saints. What a wonderful day it will be when I hear His summation of His good promises kept in my life, and I am invited to graduate to that awesome, perfect dwelling that He has made for me!
Prayer: Father, keep close accounts with me. When I begin to stray or to tire, bring me back into the center of Your purpose for my life. I don’t want to miss any of the good promises You have for me here. I long for the day when You will call me home, fully at peace and rest in the dwelling place You have fashioned just for me.