Connect Deuteronomy 4:38 with God's faithfulness in Joshua's conquest of Canaan. The Promise in Deuteronomy 4:38 “to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you, to bring you in and give you their land as an inheritance, as is the case today.” (Deuteronomy 4:38) • Spoken by Moses on the plains of Moab, this promise captures three key actions: – God will drive out formidable nations. – God will personally bring Israel into the land. – God will hand that land to Israel as an inheritance. God’s Faithfulness Unfolds in Joshua • Joshua 1:1-6 – “I will give you every place where the sole of your foot treads… No man shall stand against you…” • Joshua 3:17 – The Jordan parts, proving God is indeed “bringing them in.” • Joshua 6:20 – Jericho’s walls fall; a nation “greater and stronger” collapses without a single Israelite siege engine. • Joshua 10:42 – “Joshua captured all these kings and their lands in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.” • Joshua 21:43-45 – “Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made… failed; everything was fulfilled.” Promise and Fulfillment: A Side-by-Side Look • Drive out nations ➜ – Joshua 12 lists thirty-one defeated kings. – Deuteronomy 7:1 already named them; Joshua shows each one routed. • Nations greater and stronger ➜ – Joshua 11:4 describes armies “as numerous as the sand on the seashore.” – Yet Joshua 11:23 summarizes complete victory, proving strength is no obstacle to the LORD. • Bring you in ➜ – Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3-4) mirrors the Red Sea crossing, underscoring God’s active presence. • Give their land as inheritance ➜ – Joshua 13-21 divides the land by lot, ending with the statement that every tribe received its share. Threads of Faithfulness Woven Through the Narrative • Constancy of God’s Word – Numbers 23:19; Joshua 23:14 — not one promise fails. • Divine Initiative – Exodus 23:31 predicted boundaries; Joshua 11:16-20 records them secured. • Covenant Continuity – From Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21) to Moses (Deuteronomy 4:38) to Joshua, the same oath marches forward unbroken. • Supernatural Enablement – Stones in the Jordan (Joshua 4:6-7) stand as perpetual proof that victory was God’s doing, not Israel’s military ingenuity. Living Lessons Drawn from the Conquest • God’s promises are time-proof; centuries between Abraham and Joshua never diluted a single word. • Apparent impossibilities—fortified cities, vast coalitions—are platforms for divine power. • Obedience positions God’s people to witness His faithfulness; Israel’s crossing, marching, and allotting all occurred exactly when and how God prescribed. • Inheriting God’s best is inseparable from trusting His Word, evidenced by Caleb’s wholehearted reliance (Joshua 14:6-14). Conclusion: Deuteronomy’s Promise Proven in Joshua What Moses declared in Deuteronomy 4:38 is precisely what the historical record of Joshua delivers: God drove out greater nations, ushered His people into the land, and handed them a lasting inheritance. Every step shouts the unwavering faithfulness of the LORD, inviting present-day believers to rest confidently in all that He has spoken. |
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