The book of Joshua is an amazing story of faith, failures, and forgiveness.

It tells us how God sent the nation of Israel in to occupy the Promised Land. It recounts the many battles some of which went well and some not so much. Their success or failure was totally dependent upon their willingness to adhere to the rules God set for them. He gave them strict rules to obey and often they failed at it. Yet, every time Israel failed, and that was a lot, God was always ready and willing to forgive them. Numerous times he could have given up on them and started over with a new generation (that actually did happen once) but his love and mercy prevailed. God is faithful even when we are not.

I find that we are more like Israel than we like to admit. We know the will of God and what he expects of us but often we still fail him. Often we allow our desires to drive us to grasp the accursed thing like Achan and hold on. We reach out for those things that we know will harm us and it usually does. Yet, God doesn’t forsake us or turn away from us for our many failures.

In Joshua 23:14, the words of Joshua should remind us of our great God and just how faithful he is to his people.

“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.”

(Joshua 23:14, ESV)

Joshua says we all know, deep down inside our heart and soul, that everything God promises has come to pass. Not one promise has failed.

The implications for us is astounding and encouraging. We serve a God of love, grace and mercy. A God who keeps his promises in spite of our many failures. This should cause our love for him to boil up inside us like a spring of living water that overflows into our life and faith.

Please understand that our God reminds us numerous times throughout scripture that he is bigger than us, wiser than us, and much more faithful than us. He reminds us of these things for a purpose. He doesn’t want us to get discouraged or feel defeated. Instead, he wants us to trust in him, trust in his grace and mercy because it helps us love him more.

Let me reassure you of this great truth: Jesus loves me this I know for the bible tells me so. No truth in all of God’s word is greater than this! He loves every one of us, everyone one of his children and wants to save us.

Jeff