God keeps His promises. It is sufficient simply to have faith that
this is true without requiring proof of it (Deut 6:16, Hebrews 11:1),
but God knows our hearts even better than we do. He delights in
encouraging us--and glorifying Himself--by demonstrating His
faithfulness. In today's passage we see God's promises fulfilled in
totality. "Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed;
every one was fulfilled" (Joshua 21:45).
As he calls them home in Chapter 22, Joshua praises the eastern
tribes for their adherence to God's commands. Entering into the promised
land is a long-awaited prize for these tribes, but is it their merit
that earns them this bounty? Is God beholden to them for these parcels?
Or is it an outpouring of God's grace that such restoration is even
conceivable for the Israelites?
More broadly, what is the relationship between obedience and reward?
Many hundreds of years after Joshua's death, Jesus tells the parable of
the talents (Matthew 25: 14-30). A man charges three servants with
looking after a portion of his wealth while he is away. Upon his return,
as faithfully as they have carried out this mission, so does he lavish
them with praise and additional responsibility. It is not difficult to
see ourselves in this story, and indeed its key theme of stewardship
underpins the entire Christian life.
We are given eternal life through faith in Jesus (John 3:16, John 14)
and clear instructions to spread the Gospel far and wide (Matthew 28:
18-20). Far from being our fair wage (Romans 6:23 tells us we are due
exactly the opposite), it is a testament to God's character that we are
allowed to participate in these things. God doesn't owe us anything. We
owe him. It is thanks entirely to God's surpassing grace that just as
Joshua, "The servant of the Lord," was laid to rest in the promised land
(Joshua 24: 29-30), so too do we anticipate the promised land of
eternal life with God.
"Well done, my good and faithful servant." How my heart longs to hear those words.
Thoughtful. Refreshing post. The relationship with obedience and reward intrigues me. How is it that all that I do is in the strength of God and yet I am rewarded for what I do? Logically then, I am receiving His rewards! Sometimes I just shake my head in awe and simply say, "thank you".
ReplyDeleteI don't believe we will ever understand the depths of grace this side of heaven - maybe not on the other side either. We rest in what we don't completely understand because we are experiencing the incredible benefits and trust the words of the One Who cannot lie.