The Faithfulness of God

We now come to a conclusion of sorts. The long history of the descendants of Abraham—their enslavement in Egypt, their miraculous deliverance, their constitution as a nation at Sinai, the trials they experienced in the wilderness, their wars of conquest, the dry administrative process of subdividing the land—has reached a watershed moment. No longer are the Israelites dreaming of or striving toward the fulfillment of God’s promise to give them the land of Canaan. He has done it. Israel now exists as a landed nation, and its challenge is to live in the land in the way God intends.

Today’s passage is a glowing summary, a wonderful benediction extolling the goodness of God toward His people. He is said to have given them three things. First, He has given them “all the land of which He had sworn” to give them. Verse 43 goes on to note that the Israelites “took possession of [Canaan] and dwelt in it,” but the earlier portion of the verse disabuses us of any notion that the task was done by Israel’s own strength and tenacity. It was by God’s grace. They were able to take it because He gave it. Second, He has given them “rest all around.” Their wandering is finished, their wars are over, and the enemies who taunted, doubted, and harassed them have been put to silence. Peace and blessing are upon them. Third, He has given them victory. “Not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.” The Israelites triumphed overwhelmingly in every conflict (except for the battle at Ai, when God with drew His hand because of their sin). Yes, some Canaanites remain in Canaan, but Israel is clearly supreme in the land, and God will continue to drive the enemies out little by little (Ex. 23:30).

These things are recounted to communicate one bedrock truth to the original Israelite readers of this book (and to us)—God is faithful. “Israel’s experience of God’s fidelity is here upon record, and is an acquittance under their hands to the honor of God, the vindication of His promise which had been so often distrusted, and the encouragement of all believers to the end of the world: There failed not any good thing, no, nor aught of any good thing (so full is it expressed), which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel, but in due time all came to pass,” Matthew Henry writes in his commentary.