How does Joshua 24:28 connect to God's covenantal faithfulness throughout Scripture? The verse itself “Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own inheritance.” Joshua 24:28 Key idea wrapped up in one line God has kept His covenant promise by giving every tribe and family a concrete share of the land—proof that His word never fails. Setting the scene • The book ends with covenant renewal at Shechem (Joshua 24:1–27). • Right after the people pledge wholehearted allegiance, Joshua sends them home “to his own inheritance.” • The wording echoes God’s oath to Abraham centuries earlier (Genesis 12:7; 15:18). How this verse showcases covenant faithfulness 1. Fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise • Genesis 12:7: “I will give this land to your offspring.” • Joshua 24:28 is the tangible arrival—every family stands on soil promised long ago. 2. Confirmation of the Mosaic covenant • Deuteronomy 1:8 anticipated the day Israel would “possess the land.” • Joshua’s dismissal signals the fulfillment recorded in Joshua 21:43-45: “Not one word of all the good promises… failed.” 3. Foreshadowing the rest still to come • Hebrews 4:8-9 notes that Joshua’s rest pointed forward to a greater rest. • The land inheritance previews the fuller inheritance secured in Christ (Ephesians 1:11; 1 Peter 1:3-4). Threading the theme through Scripture • Abrahamic covenant—Promise: land, seed, blessing (Genesis 12:1-3). • Mosaic covenant—Conditions for living in the land (Exodus 19:5-6). • Davidic covenant—King to secure and expand covenant blessings (2 Samuel 7:12-16). • New Covenant—Eternal inheritance through the Messiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:20). • 2 Corinthians 1:20: “For all the promises of God find their ‘Yes’ in Him.” Why Joshua 24:28 matters for believers today • It anchors faith: the same God who handed out plots at Shechem guards our heavenly inheritance (1 Peter 1:4-5). • It invites gratitude: every promise already kept fuels trust in promises still awaiting completion. • It calls for covenant loyalty: just as Israel left Shechem resolved to serve the LORD, we walk into daily life pledged to obey our covenant-keeping God. |
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