An elderly believer was facing death. While he lay dying he told his pastor,
“For years I have relied on the promises of God, but now in my hour of death I can’t remember a single one to comfort me.”
His pastor replied, “Do you think God will forget?”
He smiled, “No, no he won’t forget. I can die in peace. God will never forget his promises.”
This man died in peace because he knew the promise of God is a sure promise. We are looking at a passage of scripture that reminds us of that very thing. We serve a faithful God.
Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. (Joshua 21:45)
So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hands. (Joshua 21:43-44)
We need to take a moment for a brief Old Testament sketch from the Garden of Eden to the promised land. When we start in the beginning Adam and Eve are created in the image of God and in fellowship with God. That fellowship was broken by sin when they disobeyed God.
There was the first Messianic promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. Adam and Eve were banished from the garden of Eden as part of the curse of sin. The pattern of sin went from bad to worse. Cain murdered his brother Able.
The results of sin were so pervasive that God found only one man, Noah who was upright. The results were a flood and a new start with Noah and his family. Again, the people did evil and at Babel they built a tower to reach the heavens. This is when God scattered the people and scrambled the languages.
This led to the call of Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
God made a promise. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— (Genesis 15:18)
The promise would take place over time, over generations. Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” (Genesis 15:13-16)
This promise was reconfirmed to Isaac, Jacob Joseph and Moses. After the exodus from Egypt a generation rebelled wandered in the wilderness and did not believe God’s promises. Joshua led the people into the promised land. There was the victory battle of Jericho.
The promise made to Abraham was 2000 BC This verse at the time of Joshua was 1400 BC. There were 600 years between the promises given and the words here that the sure promises of God are true. God is faithful. His promises are sure.
God is faithful, but we are not without responsibility. Acting by faith on the promises of God produces peace. The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hands. (Joshua 21:44)
God offered the promise land to the generation of Moses. It was their unbelief that kept them from entering. They wondered aimlessly for forty years. The next generation acted. It took faith to believe God for the impossible, but peace resulted. The Lord gave them rest on every side.
For us to receive the promise of God we must act by faith. The best example of this is our salvation in Christ. We are saved by grace through faith. Whoever believes in Christ, to them he gives eternal life.
Acting on God’s promise of eternal salvation is to have everlasting peace. It is the ultimate rest on every side. To reject Christ is to have everlasting torment. We cannot blame God for one generation wandering in the wilderness. God offers salvation and we respond by faith.
In Pilgrims Progress the main character Christian leaves the main highway to follow an easier path. This leads Christian to the territory of Giant Despair who owns doubting castle. Christian is captured by giant despair and kept in a dungeon. He is told it is no use to go on in his journey.
Christian’s companion reminds him of previous victories. They prayed all night. He ultimately escapes with a key called promise. When he tried the key of promise (God’s promises) the prison gate of despair flew open. It was a key called promise!
One generation of Israelites lived and died in the dungeon of doubt. Another generation entered into peace by a key called promise.
It is for us to act on the promises of God and open the dungeon of doubt. When we need hope we should remember our previous victories. Do you remember the time the Lord used you to lead your friend to Christ? Do you remember the time you were down to your last dollar and the Lord provided?
God never left you through the darkest moments. You held on to the key of promise. Jesus said, I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) God kept his promise concerning Israel possessing the land.
God fulfills his promise. God did it. Yes, it took 600 years, but God’s timetable is right. God’s ways are above mans ways. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (Hebrews 13:5)
Here is a promise for you to open the dungeon of despair. Jesus will come again, in God’s timing. It takes faith to believe God.
Adonirum Judson worked 6 years in Burma without seeing a commitment to Christ from anyone. After 3 years he asked what evidence there was of any success to come. The answer came, “as much as there is a God who will fulfill all his promises.” On another occasion he realized, my future is as bright as the promises of God.
We are saved by faith, believing God’s promises. Now let’s live by them. This is our key out of the dungeon of despair. You need to recognize your future is as bright as the promises of God.
Here is a set of keys to unlock the prison of despair:
Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. (John 6:47)
Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)
If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:27)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9)
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Mark 13:31)
He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3)
Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. (Joshua 21:45)
God will never forget his promises.
