The Outcome of Obedience

Today's Reading: Joshua 12:1-24

Joshua 12:7 (ESV) "And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir (and Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments … )"

Orienting myself in an unfamiliar place is overwhelming. When I moved to a new city, I found myself constantly confused by where things were located. I would be at church or a party, talking to new friends, but when they referenced places, roads or neighborhoods, I found myself checking out of the conversation because I had no idea what they were talking about.

Maybe you can relate as you read the list of kings and land in Joshua 12, but this list is significant. The Bible is about real people and events that teach us about who God is and His faithfulness. God's promises to Abraham hundreds of years earlier had been fulfilled. (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 12:6-7) Everything down to the smallest of details - from the borders for each tribe to every mountain and valley - confirmed God was true to His Word. Israel was finally receiving their inheritance: the promised land.

All of this was accomplished not by military force or human strategy but simply by God's presence and Israel's obedience to God, even in the midst of fear. They did not know what the outcome would be, but they obeyed anyway. Each battle required following God's exact instructions, from Jericho's walls falling (Joshua 6) to the ambush at Ai (Joshua 8) to hailstorms, and even the moon and sun standing still. (Joshua 10) The victories came from God alone but required the faithfulness of His people.

This was a moment to celebrate what God had done, but there was still land left to conquer and work to do.

God wasn't just giving Israel the promised land. The promised land pointed to the Promised One: Jesus. The ultimate proof of God's faithfulness to Israel, and to us, is found in Jesus, His one and only Son, whom He sent to give the inheritance of eternal life to those who believe in Him.

When we follow God, we let go of controlling how things turn out. Our job is to be obedient and trust God with the outcome. He is concerned with our hearts. He longs for us to trust in Him. Our obedience to God is a way to actively show our affection for Him.

Israel did not know how God would make good on His promises to defeat their enemies. They also did not know how the promised Messiah would defeat sin and death. We don't know when Jesus will come again to defeat evil for good, but we can walk forward in obedience because God has proven He is in control of the outcome.

The God who brought Israel to the promised land is the same God for us today. The list of victories shows us we can trust Him with whatever we are facing. Like Israel, let's celebrate what God has done and look ahead to what He will do. The Promised One is coming again soon! (Revelation 22:20)

Prayer: God, thank You for Your faithfulness to us. You have proven time and time again You are trustworthy. You are faithful to keep Your promises, down to the smallest of details. Help us to choose obedience and trust You with the outcome. Thank You for the ultimate fulfilled promise in Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen.

More Moments About Joshua 12:1-24

The first half of Joshua 12 lists the lands that were conquered under Moses' leadership. (Joshua 12:1-6) The second half lists the land conquered under Joshua's leadership. (Joshua 12:7-24) While there was still land left to take, this celebration of what had happened so far shows the unity between Moses and Joshua as leaders.

Moses led Israel until he died and passed it on to Joshua, who was then commissioned by God. (Deuteronomy 31) Joshua spent most of his life under Moses' leadership. His proximity to Moses prepared him to succeed Moses. Learning from Moses' successes and mistakes helped Joshua lead Israel to follow God and conquer the promised land. God continued what He started with Moses through Joshua shows us the legacy of these two leaders.

Major Moment: The conquered kings and land were listed.

This was originally published in the First 5 app as part of the study of Joshua: Choosing Obedience Even When You Are Afraid.