The Unfailing Goodness of God

“Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”
Joshua 21:45

There are few things in this life that provide unending enjoyment. Each day seems to present new opportunities to experience disappointment. Possessions are stolen or broken. Vocations are swiftly terminated or find their natural conclusion in retirement. Accolades and admiration becomes drowned out through the clamor of criticism and chastisement. It is through the incessantly storm-filled seasons of life that we tend to internally ask, “How can I attain peace in the midst of chaos and controversy?” “How do I come to feel settled in an unsettling world?” In short, rest and relief can only be found in God.  It is the Lord’s blessed character that is an anchor for the weary soul, the soul seemingly tossed about in the stormy seas of the earthly experience.

This truth is displayed in the closing verse of Joshua 21, which proudly announces that God honored every single promise to the Israelite people. Of critical importance, the Lord kept the Hebrews safe and rendered His victorious hand over surrounding enemies. God’s providence was crucial for the Israelites to properly revalidate their legacy and become acquainted to the land they had only recently come to reside in. But this verse highlights a greater meaning than just the benefit of supernatural involvement for Hebrew affairs in Canaan. It signifies that the Lord’s temperament is so righteous, so holy, that He is altogether unable to ignore the covenants He has made.

 

This is incredibly uplifting in an age when empty words and shallow pacts are issued with rapid frequency. Pledges do not seem to be binding in today’s times. They can be edited, rephrased, or wholly ignored. But when we consider God-initiated accords we can be certain that what God has stated will come to pass. All this to say, if God’s character is dependable, then so is His Word because His Word is a confirmation of His nature. Let us never forget that God’s decrees and declarations are grand and glorious. His message is touching and true. His ways are spectacular and sure.

As the Israelite surveyed the land of Canaan so long ago they knew the work before them would indeed be difficult. It would be full of trials and travails. But they had the prospect of looking upon the forthcoming labor with a glad heart because the unfailing goodness of God was all around them. And what mankind forgets to realize in the modern era is that the Lord’s unfailing goodness is still readily available for our benefit as well. His benevolent, life-changing Spirit awaits our prayers and pleas for intercession. It simply begins by choosing to submit to God each day. Therefore, let us seek God’s direction and heed His direction. Let us drink from the continually refreshing river of God’s love and find the strength to nobly journey another day.