Thursday, May 9 – Joshua 21, 22
1. When does GOD give His people promises?
2. What are the different types of promises?
3. What promise has GOD given you?
One of the themes in Joshua 21 and 22, is that the LORD GOD is a promise keeper. Once He has proclaimed a promise, nothing can stop that promise from coming true. GOD had promised the Levites both towns and pastureland for their livestock, and Joshua 21 is about how the Levites met with Israel’s leaders to claim that promise (21:2). The chapter ends with this glorious verse: “Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true” (Joshua 21:45 NLT). It turns out that not just the Levites, but all of Israel received all the good things that GOD had promised them (Joshua 21:43-44 and Joshua 22:4).
There are 5 types of promises in the Bible:
- Unconditional Promises: There are no conditions, requirements or stipulations to these promises. Unconditional Promises means that Jehovah GOD is going to do what He said He will do; He is going to keep His promise no matter what. They are called unconditional because they are not dependent on people’s behaviors but on GOD’s good will.
Gen 9:13-15 God said “I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth… Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life.
- Conditional Promises: Anyone can claim this type of promise if they meet the conditions. The fulfillment of these promises depends upon our obedient action. God will do exactly what He’s promised if we obediently cooperate. Most promises in the Bible fall under this category. If you are not seeing His promise fulfilled, make sure you are carrying out your part.
Romans 10:9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
John 1:12 To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
- GOD’s specific promises. Specific promises given to a specific individual. We cannot legitimately claim promises in the Bible made to a specific individual, because they are not for us. We can’t just pick a random promise that we like and claim it as our own. The context will let you know who the promise is made to. For example, this promise was made to Abram and no one can claim it, unless GOD specifically tells an individual that this promise is also for them.
Genesis 12:1-2 The LORD said to Abram, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.