If you do a quick read of the book of Joshua you may miss it. Tons of telling about how the land is distributed. In Chapter 21 all of the warring and distributing is done. God’s promise is fulfilled with a caveat in Chapter 23. It does not come rolling but roaring down in verses 15 and 16. They had to continue to obey God to keep the promised inheritance – “And it shall come about that just as all the good words which the Lord your God spoke to you have come upon you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the threats, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you.” That gives me pause because I am saved by grace but God does not stop tracking me once I’m in His kingdom. The people of Israel were given rest from their enemies on every side, and Joshua was old (and tired). God was still with them as He is with us today. (I’m wondering how the tribes grew during this time because many men were absent.) God orders them to sustain from people who worship other gods. That is practical. Haven’t we all heard and told our children that association could determine where they end up in future? Who does not know a young lady whose life was changed by ‘missionary’ dating. It is not recommended in scripture. Instead, “Cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day” and trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus – but to trust and obey.
