February 28, 2024 - Joshua 20-21

Some thoughts from today’s reading.

The cities of refuge:  “These were the cities designated for all the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation” (20:9).  God is a fair and just God.

The Levites, at Shiloh, said to Joshua and Eleazar, “The Lord commanded through Moses that we be given cities to dwell in, along with their pasturelands for our livestock” (21:1-2).  “So by command of the Lord the people of Israel gave to the Levites the following cities and pasturelands out of their inheritance” (21:3).  God provides for his people.  One of his names is “Jehovah Jirah,” i.e., “the Lord will provide” (Genesis 22:14).

“And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers.  Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands.  Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass” (21:44-45).  God is faithful to perform all he has promised.

So shall we sing, the changeful story ended,

When in the harbor our frail bark has sail’d,

‘Mid storm and calm, ‘mid days and nights of sorrow,

Praise His dear name, not one good thing hath fail’d.

Oft times it seem’d not thus; so drear our prospect,

Anguish and fearful care well night prevaild;

But now with all our hearts and souls we witness

His word is true, not one good thing hath fail’d.   -- Alice J. Home (1926)