God Keeps His Promises

 Yesterday, in our family Bible study, Dad was teaching us about the legacy of faith that Caleb had. His text for yesterday was Joshua 14:6-15.

Dad gave some background on the story, about how Caleb & Joshua had given a glowing report about the Promise Land (Numbers 13), saying that the inhabitants of the land were large, but that the Israelites could overcome them, with the LORD's help, even though their fellow spies had doubted the Lord. The Lord made a Promise to Caleb, that he would inherit the Land, because of his hope, faith & trust in the Lord (Numbers 14:20-24).

Then he told us how Joshua moved up in the ranks, becoming Moses' right-hand man & then assumed leadership over the nation of Israel when Moses passed away (Joshua 1). And how Caleb was right beside him, in all of this. Still serving the Lord. Still doing His Work.

Dad read to us from Joshua 1: 

"After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the
son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 'Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over
this Jordan, you & all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people
of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you,
just as I promised to Moses... No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of
your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake
you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land
that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being
careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn
from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and
night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you
will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded
you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.'”
- Joshua 1:1-9

Dad pointed out (from the text above) that God had given all of the Promise Land to the Israelites (verse 3- "every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you"), that no man could stand against them (verse 5). That God was still with them, even though Moses had died (also verse 5). That the Israelites must be very careful to follow the Path that the Lord was Calling them on (verse 7-8). 

That took us to our text for yesterday (Joshua 14:6-15). Caleb asks Joshua to remember the Promise that the Lord made to him forty-five years earlier. Caleb had served the Lord faithfully all this time & was now ready to received the Promised Inheritance. Joshua rewarded Caleb's faithfulness in serving the Lord, how He blessed Caleb for following Him wholeheartedly. Now the Lord remembered His Promise to Caleb, made forty-five years earlier.

This reminded of 2 Samuel 7- God's Covenant with David. How God promised some very specific things that David didn't receive in his lifetime- a multi-generational Promise. But how David understood that & continued to trust in the God of his Salvation. And also of Hebrews chapter 11- the Hall of Faith. 

"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised,
but having seen them & greeted them from afar, & having acknowledged that
they were strangers & exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it
clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that
land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city."

- Hebrews 11:13-16

 This is not our Home. We are seeking a better home, in Heaven. And God always keeps His Promises- both years later & in future generations. His ways are not our ways. He has a Plan & a Purpose for this. No Promise He has made will ever return void. The Word of the Lord will stand forever. There will always be a Remnant. God is Sovereign over the affairs of man. He is still on His Throne. Be a faithful steward of all that the Lord has entrusted you with. You will be blessed. Trust Him. Do not lose heart. Be strong & courageous!

 "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up..." 

- Galatians 6:9

Waiting Patiently for the Lord's Timing

Four weeks ago, my best friend sent me some encouragement concerning the story of Abraham & his maidservant Hagar. Last Sunday, Pastor Serven mentioned the story again (speaking on God's Sovereign Choice- his text was Romans 9:6-13, also referencing Genesis 17:15-27 among other passages). So apparently this was something I needed to hear.

The background on the story is this- Back in Genesis 12, God had Called Abram. In chapter 15, God established His covenant with Abram & his seed.  In chapter 17, God confirms His covenant with Abram & changed his name to Abraham (meaning, "the father of a multitude"). In chapter 18, Abraham & his wife are are promised the birth of their son Isaac.

In between those chapters, we have chapter 16- the chapter in which Abraham fails to trust the timing of God's Plan & takes things into His own Hands. You see, God had promised a godly seed, a son, a legacy to Abraham. But he was in his late eighties & his wife Sarah was in her late seventies. They had never had children before & Abraham thought they were too old to have children. He trusted the Lord's Promise, but thought he might "help" the Lord a little. Bad idea.

To that which God Calls us to do, He also Equips us to do. Nothing is impossible with God.

In Genesis 16, Abraham's wife Sarah gives her servant Hagar to Abraham, to bear him a son. When Hagar was pregnant with Ishmael & saw that Sarah still could bear no children, this caused enmity between the mistress & the maidservant, which led to more drama, hate & mistreatment. Hagar fled from Sarah's wrath into the desert. There the Angel of the Lord met Hagar & gave her a Promise concerning her son Ishmael & his legacy.

One man's decision has affected the course of nations. Ishmael (Abraham's son through Hagar) is the Father of Islam. Judaism comes from the line of Isaac (Abraham's son through Sarah). The strife in the Middle East, in Israel, in Jerusalem all results back to this one bad decision made by Abraham. Think how much pain, killing, strife could have been avoided if Abraham had simply waited for the Lord's timing!

And that is the reminder that my friend Megan & Pastor Serven have given me. If we really trust God, this means that we are willing to wait for His Timing. To trust Him & wait for Him to do things His Way. Do not rush ahead of God or His Plan for your life.

May we learn, like the Apostle Paul, to be content in every situation-

"I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
I know how to be brought low, & I know how to abound.
In any & every circumstance, I have learned the secret
of facing plenty & hunger, abundance & need.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
- Philippians 4:11-13

I will leave you with this Scripture-

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint
& to him who has no might He increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    & young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run & not be weary;
    they shall walk & not faint."

- Isaiah 40:28-31

As Megan said to me a month ago, "Are you going to take what man is offering & create generations of problems? Or are you going to wait for GOD to deliver on His Promises?"

May you be encouraged today!

Do Not Give Up!

You might think that your life doesn't matter, but perhaps you’re building a foundation for generations to come (catching the Vision & seeing things from His perspective). “His ways are higher than our ways” (Isaiah 55:9).

The impact & influence of your life might be felt for years to come after your death, living on through the lives of your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. Nothing is mundane or pointless. All is important in God's eyes.

There might not always be an immediate blessing experience or witness because of your efforts. Sometimes you must wait for the long-term impact (leaving a godly legacy, having a multi-generational vision etc). Remember Galatians 6:9- "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up..." And rememeber- "Only what's done for Christ will last."

Several months ago, in my Bible study class, we studied 2 Samuel 7, which speaks of God's covenant with David. It speaks of the Promised Savior dwelling on David's throne. Although this Promise wasn't fulfilled in David's lifetime, yet David still trusted and believed. 

He completes what He has begun and His Power is Sufficient to execute all that He desires. "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

 I am also reminded of the "Hall of Fame" in Hebrews 11, especially verse 13: "These all died in faith, not having received the things Promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth..."


Hold on to the Promise, even when it's hard to believe at that moment, even when the Vision hasn't been fulfilled yet. Have unwavering Faith that He will bring His Promise to pass as He said. "So shall My Word be that goes out from My Mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I Purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)


Continue to trust in His Salvation. Our hope is assured! It is all Worth it! Press on!


"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith. " (Hebrews 12:1-3a) 

Persevero!