So by now you’ve probably figured out that I’m blogging very slowly through the book of Joshua.  I had great hopes that I could actually blog as I was reading and learning, but life happens and husbandly and fatherly responsibilities necessarily take precedent.  I am still blogging through Joshua but it is really no longer “what I’m learning” but more like “what I’ve learned” in Joshua.  But I want to continue because there are still some great lessons in this book.

We pick up today in Joshua 5 for a very simple statement made in the middle of the chapter that really points to the character of God.  In fact, it is a blatant, powerful evidence of one of God’s greatest attributes and why we have so much hope as believers in Christ.  And that is God’s faithfulness.

Remember from our last blog post that all of Israel just crossed the Jordan river miraculously.  They set up stones to be a reminder.  Then we see immediately in chapter 5 that many of the pagan kings just gave up upon hearing how the Israelites crossed over the river. The text says that their heart melted.  Didn’t even want to try to put up a fight.

Then we get an interesting piece of history.  We are reminded in chapter 5 that there was an entirely new generation of young Israelite men because the previous generation died off in the desert.  Remember? They made it to the promise land and sent in spies but they were afraid and complained and begged to go back to Egypt.  So God sent them into the wilderness for 40 years until a new generation arose.  But even in that defiance God was gracious to provide food for his people – manna.

Now back to our current story, apparently the men in this new generation had not been circumcised which was the covenant sign of the Israelites.  So…yeah. That had to be done. With flint knives.  Ouch.  But this was again to remind the Israelites that they were set apart and also to remind them of that time period of wandering in the desert.  And that where we get an incredibly encouraging statement.

What an incredible statement about God’s faithfulness.  For forty years He continued to provide food to these people.  For forty years He protected them in the wilderness.

God is faithful and because He is faithful, He can be trusted.  Just look at this passage!

He is faithful over time.  God was patient in his faithfulness and continued to provide everything they needed for over forty years until they at last reached the promised land as He had promised them.

He is faithful despite our attitude.  So often, the Israelites would complain about the circumstances they were in and complain about being tired of manna.  Yet, God remained faithful.

His faithfulness will never leave us wanting.  What I love most about this passage is that he consistently, faithfully provided for them right up to the promise land (which was another promise He also was faithful to) and then it ended.  They no longer needed it.  God’s faithfulness is perfect.

We could go on and on about faithfulness but the bottom line is that God is faithful.  It is an incredibly encouraging fact.  The Bible tells us that He will never leave you nor forsake you.  The Bible tells us that we hold fast to the hope that we profess because He who promised is faithful.  The Bible tells us that He (being Christ) who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

But the greatest example of God being faithful and fulfilling his promise is in what we just remembered this past Easter Sunday.  The fact that in Genesis 3 we rebel against God but he makes a promise that one will come and crush our enemy.  And God was faithful to send His son Jesus to earth.  To die on a cross.  To be buried in a tomb and take all the punishment and all judgement and all the wrath due you and me because of our rebellion.  But then to rise from the dead, conquer death and impart his perfect righteousness to those who believe.  And in that incredible fulfillment of his promise he is now faithful to keep us and to give us a living hope!!  I wonder, do you know Him?

He is faithful.  In a world shrouded by confusion, empty promises, and letdowns,  He is faithful.  We can trust God. It is on display in Joshua 5 and it is on display today.  How have you seen God’s faithfulness in your own life?  Make sure to learn from the last session to make note of it – to remember 🙂