None of God's Promises Fail

The Book of Joshua
Written By Pastor Joseph Khabbaz

“...not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” (Joshua 23:14, NIV)

 

God’s promises never fail. Shortly after Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company was founded, the company faced its first two death claims when an excursion train traveling from Janesville to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, derailed, resulting in the tragic death of two of whom were policyholders. With losses surpassing the company's resources, the president and treasurer personally borrowed the necessary funds to pay the claims. When asked why they didn't simply default on the payments, they replied that they would rather see the company fail than break their promise to those who trusted them.[1] The leaders of the company reflect the reliability of God's promises, which are more certain than an insurance policy.

In Joshua 23, the warrior leader Joshua of the Israelites reflects on his life and praises God, who helped His people victoriously fight against armies larger than themselves, fulfilling every promise He made to them. You may have heard the saying, “Hindsight is 20/20.” When we face difficulty and loss, we may begin to question God’s faithfulness by asking ourselves, “Is God truly trustworthy?” or “Will He actually keep His promises?” I am sure that is how Joshua felt when he encountered the impenetrable walls of Jericho, but in hindsight, Joshua reminded Israel that they could rely on God’s promises; not one has failed.

Are you facing a concern or even a crisis today? Hold onto God’s promise, “Your life may look to you to be full of mistakes, but what if there are mistakes? Jesus knows all about the trials, the weaknesses of humanity, and He has placed on record the most precious promises: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;”[2] When we focus on God’s unfailing promises instead of merely our failures, His demonstrated love empowers us to face trials and afflictions with the confidence because God’s promises never fail us.

REFLECTION

  1. Think back to a time when keeping a promise was difficult. What did you do, and how did things turn out because of your decision?

  2. Reflect on a personal challenge where you felt overwhelmed, considering the obstacles Joshua faced, such as the walls of Jericho. In hindsight, can you identify instances where God was faithful, even if it was not clear at the time?

  3. What concerns are you currently facing, and how can the promises of God, such as being our advocate and guide, offer comfort or reassurance during this time?

References

[1] The Origins of Doing the Right Thing, northwesternmutual.com

[2] Manuscript Releases [Nos. 1186–1235, 1986–1987]. 1993. Vol. 16. Ellen G. White Estate.

Pastor Joseph Khabbaz

Joseph currently serves as the VP for Spiritual Life and Chaplain at Southern Adventist University. Prior to moving to Southern, he served as Youth and Young Adult Pastor at Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Takoma Park, MD. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Joseph was the Director of Tertiary and Young Adult Ministries for the South Queensland Conference. He also worked as a Chartered Accountant (CPA’s equivalent) before leaving the corporate world to study for his MDiv at the Andrews Theological Seminary. His passion is to ignite missional leaders and prepare young adults in the advancing of God’s Kingdom. He and his wife Christina met on the campus of Southern and enjoy international missions, playing basketball and spending quality time with family and friends.

https://josephkhabbaz.com
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