Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction. – 1 Corinthians 10:11
If you have ever been entangled in a contract dispute you know there is little as distressing as wondering if someone is going to make good on a promise.
Joshua, leader of ancient Israel following the time of Moses served God and his nation well. As he prepared to pass the baton to the next generation, he assembled the entire realm to renew and review their covenant with God and to each other. He reminded the people of God’s nature as a promise keeper. “You know in your hearts and souls, 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). The people must have been encouraged to remember how God defeated their enemies and brought their nation into the land of promise!
Because Joshua was a good leader, he also reminded the people of THEIR part in the covenant and what the consequences were if they proved to be unfaithful to their promises. “If you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God and go and serve other gods bowing down to them… you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you” (Joshua 23:16). Imagine how sobering it was for the entire nation to be reacquainted with their promises.
As you meditate on the faithfulness of God today, ask Him to enable you to do what He has purposed and called you to do. Pray that America’s public officials would reflect upon their oaths and promises to God, being faithful to honor Him in their personal lives and in their obligations to the Republic.
Today’s Verse: Hebrews 13:8
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 2 Peter 3:9-13
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
