Bible in 90, Day 17: Promises Kept

Joshua 15 – Judges 3

*image courtesy of asifthebes at www.sxc.hu

There are several promises that are fulfilled and kept throughout today’s passage.  It begins in 21:43-35 where the narrator reports that God fulfilled every one of His promises about the Land.  Chapter 22 shows more promises kept as the Eastern Tribes return home.  They had promised to stay with the armies of Israel until the Land had been subdued before they would settle in their own inheritance across the Jordan.  Here, we see that duty being fulfilled and the Eastern tribes being released from their responsibilities.  They even remain faithful and ensure that future generations will remain faithful to the Lord.  Then in  24:29-32, we see that the Israelites who swore to follow the Lord did that for the entire lifetime and Joshua and the elders who outlived him.  Also, the bones of Joseph were buried exactly where they were supposed to be.  Joseph had told his children to carry his bones back to the Promised Land when God delivered them, and Moses was careful to be sure that the bones were carried with them (Genesis 50:25; Exodus 13:19).

Imagine the commitments involved here.  First of all, Moses was able to locate the bones of Joseph some 400 years after his death.  Then, the Israelites kept up with them, carrying them from place to place during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.  But Joseph’s wishes were carried out.

Let’s also think about the men of the Eastern Tribes.  They had been given their inheritance, the land across the Jordan.  It must have been tough for them to continue fighting while their families waited at home for them in their new land.  It must have been difficult for the families to let them go and wonder if they would ever see them again.  But their commitments were firm.  They honored this difficult pledge to continue helping their fellow Israelites.

If only we would take our vows and commitments as seriously today!  Jesus told us to mean what we say.  We should not even need to swear oaths because our word should be honorable and mean something (Matthew 5:33-37).  Let us be men and women of our word.  Let us honor our commitments, whether large or small.