God's Faithfulness unto Those Who Draw Near to Him

Joshua 24.14-18

14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God.”

If there is one thing Christians need reminder of daily, it is the faithfulness of God. This phrase holds far more power than that for which we give the Lord credit. Think for a moment how often we’ve wrought needless pain and worry and doubt over earthly and spiritual matters because we have forgotten our Father’s faithfulness. We look back at those moments and see the silliness and childishness of our actions.

The Scriptures are clear that God is faithful. It is plainly stated. His faithfulness is not eloquent; it is not shrouded in unobtainable poetic abstractions nor reachable by only the greatest heroes of faith: it is simple, soft, but firm. As Joshua’s story comes to a close, we hear so clearly of the testimony to God’s faithfulness. Joshua declares that “he and [his] household will serve the LORD.” Why is Joshua so confident to put the security and direction of his family under the care of the Lord? The people of Israel answer this question. They proclaim that “it was the LORD [their] God himself who brought [they] and [their] parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great sings before [their] eyes. He protected [them] on [their] entire journey and among all the nations through which [they] traveled.”

How faithful God is to have redeemed a nation of Hebrew slaves and put up with them for forty years of wandering in the desert. He did not forgot the promise He made to Abraham, Moses, and Joshua. Whatever plans God has given you, NEVER think for a moment that God will be unfaithful to execute them. If you are faithful to Him, He will be faithful to you. Psalm 145.18-19a says “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him.” Likewise, James tells us in James 4.8 to “Come near to God and he will come near to [us].” Beloved, when we follow the Lord with all our hearts as Joshua did, as Moses did, as Abraham did, He will be faithful to keep His promises. He will bring you into a place of peace and prosperity. His love and grace will overflow like a river in your life. Everywhere you go, the name of the Lord will be written on you. God is faithful. As He protected the Israelites, so He protects His other children. We are God’s children, under His infinite and omnipotent, eternal power! Amen!