This week in my devotions, I’ve been reading in the book of Joshua and it talks about the Promised Land that was being divided up amongst the tribes of Israel. And at the very end of chapter 21, in verse 45, it says: “Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”
This is an affirmation of God’s unwavering commitment to His people. Yet, as we reflect on the journey of the Israelites, we can’t ignore the fact that it took them 40 years longer to reach the Promised Land than it should have. When the generation before Joshua and Caleb stood on the edge of the land God promised, they allowed fear to take over. Instead of trusting in God’s power, they saw the giants in the land and chose to remain where they were.
This delay wasn’t because God was unfaithful to His promises, but because the people were unwilling to step out in faith and trust in Him: trust in a promise that He had made to them. How often do we find ourselves in similar situations?
God gives us promises through His Word—promises of hope, peace, purpose, provision, and victory. Yet, like the Israelites, we sometimes allow fear to paralyze us. We see the “giants” in our lives—the obstacles, challenges, or uncertainties—and we fail to move forward. We miss out on experiencing our own “Promised Land” in life because we fail to step out in faith.
In our lives, we sometimes experience spiritual “wilderness” seasons—times when we feel lost, stuck, or unsure of what God is doing. It’s easy to grow discouraged in these times but these moments don’t have to last 40 years. Just as the Israelites wandered, waiting to step into God’s promise, we too may find ourselves wandering.
However, God’s desire is for us to move forward in faith, believing that He is faithful to fulfill His promises. Hebrews 10:23 encourages us: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
As we reflect on Joshua 21:45, we’re reminded that God’s promises never fail. The question is, are we willing to trust Him and take steps of faith, or will we let fear keep us wandering? God is calling us to experience our own Promised Land moments—to step into the fullness of His plans for our lives. May we be people who grab hold of His promises, and move forward in faith, knowing that just as He was faithful to Israel, He will be faithful to us.
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