Tuesday: Heirs of Promises
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 30th of September 2025
In Joshua 1:2-3, the Lord tells Joshua that He is giving the land to them. On the other hand, He said that He has already given it. What does that mean?
The land was a gift from the Lord, who was the real Owner. In Joshua 1:2-3, two different forms of the verb “to give” are used, reflecting two significant aspects of inheriting the land. The first form expresses the process of giving the land. Only the Transjordan territories had been occupied by Israel. Most of the Promised Land had yet to be taken.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
In Joshua 1:3 the verb is used in its perfect form, giving the impression that the land had already been given to them. When God is the subject of such actions, the form is called “the prophetic perfect.” And that’s because what He promises in His Word is an assured fact that can be trusted as present reality.
The pronouns in verse 3, “you” and “your,” are plurals, so the promise is given not only to Joshua but to the entire people of Israel. The reference to the promise given to Moses conveys the continuity of God’s cause.
Also, the word kol, “all,” “every,” is repeated numerous times in the first chapter. The pervasive presence of this noun expresses the totality and integrity that is crucial to attaining the objective set before Joshua. There has to be a perfect alignment between God, Joshua, and the people of Israel in order to assure success in the forthcoming conquest of the Promised Land.
Read Joshua 1:4-6 and Hebrews 6:17-18. At that moment, the Promised Land was exactly that, a promise. Yet, God calls it an inheritance. What does it mean to be the heirs of God’s promises?
There is nothing magical about the promises of God. They don’t have the power in and of themselves to secure their own fulfillment. The guarantee that they will come true lies in the presence of God, who says: “ ‘I will be with you.’ ” Indeed, the presence of the Lord was crucial for the survival of the Israelites. Without it, they would be only one among many nations, with no special call, identity, or mission (Exodus 33:12-16). The presence of the Lord was everything Joshua needed to succeed.
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Nothing today has changed, which is why we have the promise of Jesus found in Matthew 28:20. |
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The concept of inheritance has been a topic of recent discussion in Australia. One of the main drivers has been the fact that we do not have an inheritance tax here and our politicians look with envy at countries that do have it. The problem for them is they know if their political party introduces it, they will lose the next election. But it has raised the bigger question about the privilege and responsibility of inheritance. Some of the more notable rich people in Australia have made it known to their children that they won't be receiving large-value inheritances so they can lead a life of luxury and privilege. They want their children to understand the importance of work and the decision-making process. Instead, they have set up charities that support causes of value to society such as medical research.
Those of us who do not have much money to dispose of when we die, hope that our children will inherit less tangible things from us, like our Christian faith and values. And in that sense, inheritance has a very different meaning. Nobody inherits faith. What I think it means is that we hope our children will see the value we place on our faith.
Perhaps it is not too far from what today's lesson intended. The inheritance that God was speaking about was the value of functioning as a nation - working together hand in hand with God.
The Psalmist spoke about inheritance:
... and Jesus repeated it:
How do these quotes inform us about today's lesson?
To be an heir to the promises of God is not hereditary, nor is it automatic, but by faith, obedience, and perseverance. The Children of Israel did not inherit the Promised Land simply because they were the descendants of Abraham. “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham.”( Romans 9:6–8 ). The Children of Israel received the inheritance of the Promised Land solely because of obedience and not through ancestry alone. Children of the promise were achieved through faith. There are so many who did not enter the Promised Land due to unbelief (Numbers 14:22–23, Hebrews 3:19).
God has promised us the inheritance of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Church membership or keeping the law is not the ticket to God’s kingdom, but only by believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 ). There is no access to our heavenly inheritance without Jesus Christ.
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…”(Romans 8:16–17 ).
Now God has adopted us as His sons and daughters, to be co-heirs with His Son Jesus Christ.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus… And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26–29)
Omwenga - thank you for sharing with us this last quote - Gal.3:26-29, telling us all we need to know to be assured of the 'right' to our inheritance.
A promise can only be as good as the one that make it. Human promises often fall short because they are limited by both knowledge and ability. A friend may promise to visit but unforeseen events or own weaknesses prevent that person from keeping their word. This is why Scripture reminds us not to place ultimate trust in man, for even with the best intentions, people can fail (Psalm 146:3). Human promises are bound by uncertainty, but God’s promises are bound by His perfect wisdom and unlimited power.
This truth is clearly seen in God’s promise to Israelites. Though they were few in number and often weak in faith, God swore to give them the land of Canaan as an inheritance. He said, “The Lord your God will bring you into the land which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you great and goodly cities, which you did not build” (Deuteronomy 6:10). Despite Israel’s doubts, fears, and repeated failures to trust Him, God delivered on His word. His faithfulness to them is the same assurance for us today, when He promises that we are heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), it rests not on our strength but on His unfailing power and faithfulness.
On the other-hand He has said He has already given it. The Lord did not want the Israelites to fight a war. He had told them that He would pave the way before them. He would drive the people out who had never turned to Him, with hornets. I do believe that was the Hittites and Canaanites. Exodus 23:28
Here we are in 2025, continually rehashing the history of a nation who was lead by God into a land which they had willing left to go in search of food, but had unfortunately been enslaved in that new land. I dare say, the majority of us reading this do not belong to that ethnic group. Who wrote our history? Did God lead us as a people (our various ethnic groups)? What about the black people who were taken from Africa and enslaved in the Americas? Was it God who set them free or was God the God only of the slave masters? How is God leading other nations and who is writing the history? Or did God only lead Israel?
If you see these studies as " continually rehashing the history of a nation," I suspect you are not gaining anything of value in these lessons.
Instead, I challenge you to accept the words of Paul, when he wrote,
And ALWAYS pray for the enlightening of the Holy Spirit when you study the Bible. Without the Holy Spirit, studying the Bible may do more harm than good.
If you will take the time to prayerfully read more of the Bible for yourself, you will see that the Lord is the Lord of all nations and guides the affairs of men even while letting them have free will to demonstrate what is in their hearts. That being said, there was only one nation in the history of the world that was specifically chosen as God's people to demonstrate His character to the world. And it was this nation to whom God entrusted His Law. Unfortunately they failed the mission He gave them, and then the commission to demonstrate His character to the world was given to the followers of Christ. (See Gal. 3:29)
It's the "free will" issue that may make things confusing. But without free will, love is not possible, and God IS love and longs for a relationship of love with the beings He has created.
Inge, I was pained to read, "I suspect you are not [learning] anything from these lessons." Sorry, that was a bit too blunt. :/
I interpreted Corinthia's questions to be intriguing and asking how these lessons (and the history of Israel in Scripture) paint a picture of how we might see God acting throughout world history.
Thank you for your honesty. I accept your reproof. You are likely correct.
Words on the screen do not convey tone of voice or facial expression that provides context to words.
I was trying to be helpful, but I should have expressed myself better.
So, how do you answer Corinthia's question, as you understand it?
You're right, intentions don't always come across the same way we...intend.
It helps to understand that there's a conflict that transcends nations. Just as God is involved throughout history in every nation, group, and people, satan is also just as involved to mess things up and distort the image of God.
But these questions probably won't be understood for all eternity - how does free will leaves God so open to misinterpretation (wait until we get to lessons 4 and 5), not only in Scripture, but throughout history?!
It was through Israel, that Jesus, the Messiah came. Every nation can be children of God through Him. That's why the history of Israel is so important. In the end, whatever our nation, our destiny depends on how we respond to Jesus. All the other oppressions, as significant as they are, pale in light of our need for Jesus.
God told Joshua that He was giving the land to the Israelites, but He also said He had already given it. This sounds confusing because the land wasn’t fully theirs yet; they still had to go conquer it.
“I am giving” means it’s a process, they’re still working to take the land.
“I have given” means the promise is so sure and certain that it is like they already own it, even though they have not fully received it yet.
Being heirs of God's promises means that they will receive what God promised but only if they trust Him, obey Him, and keep their faith strong. God’s promises are sure and trustworthy. His presence with us is what makes promises come true.
How does this lesson about inheritance applies to the current situation in Gaza? Why do some Christians see the actions of Israel as satanic? Even though the Bible said God gave the land to the children of God.
I cannot say why people think the way they do. But I do know that much of the Christian world looks for Israel to be fully restored and the temple to be rebuilt, based on certain promises to God's people in the Old Testament. Certain leaders in Israel see the promises of God the same way.
What they all fail to understand is that the Jews ceased to be the people of God when they fully rejected Christ with the stoning of Stephen. After that, Paul taught that those who are Christ's are "heirs according to the promise" - not the physical state of Israel then or now. (See Gal. 3:29)
Today, Jews and Gentiles alike may be inheritors of the promises of God by accepting Christ as Savior. Then we also read the promises of the Old Testament differently. Those that have not been fulfilled were conditional, or they will be fulfilled to the spiritual Israel of God - those who allow Christ to live in their hearts through faith.
I have serious issues with this statement:
"There is nothing magical about the promises of God. They don’t have the power in and of themselves to secure their own fulfillment. The guarantee that they will come true lies in the presence of God, who says: “ ‘I will be with you.’ ”
It gives the impression that God is separate to His words. Built into God's words are their fulfillment. "He spake and it was done!"
I feel the same way. That statement makes it sound like God’s promises are just empty words until He steps in to back them up. But the Bible shows us something very different: God’s Word itself carries the power to do what it says. “He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9). His Word is never separate from His presence-it’s the very expression of His power.
I love how the pioneers put it:
“The word of God at the beginning of creation had in it the creative energy to produce that thing which the word pronounced… that same word of God has that same creative energy in it yet; so that when that word is spoken, the creative energy is there to produce the thing.”
- A. T. Jones, Review and Herald, Feb. 21, 1899
And also:
“Faith is the expecting the word of God to do what it says and the depending upon that word to do what it says… the word of God, in order to inculcate faith, must teach that the word has in itself power to accomplish what itself says. … ‘For He spake, and it was.’ … What caused it to be? The word only.”
> - E. J. Waggoner
Even Ellen White wrote that the Word of God has power in itself:
>“The excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.” “The words that I speak unto you,” said Jesus, “they are spirit, and they are life.” “This is life eternal, that they should know Thee the only true God, and Him whom Thou didst send.” Ecclesiastes 7:12; John 6:63; 17:3, R.V. The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God. This word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature and re-creates the soul in the image of God. The life thus imparted is in like manner sustained. “By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) shall man live.
- Education, p.126
The same creative energy that brought the world into existence is still exerted in upholding the universe and continuing the operations of nature. The hand of God guides the planets in their orderly march through the heavens. It is not because of inherent power that year by year the earth continues her motion round the sun and produces her bounties. The word of God controls the elements. He covers the heavens with clouds and prepares rain for the earth. He makes the valleys fruitful and “grass to grow upon the mountains;” Psalm 147:8. It is through His power that vegetation flourishes, that the leaves appear and the flowers bloom.
- Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p.185
His Word is never powerless.
Pavlo - thank you for pointing out the power of God inherent in His Word using Scripture and Ellen White's insights. The 'Word' - manifesting Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe to understand this Truth to be vitally important for our Salvation.
Ray,
God’s promises are sure and powerful in themselves, yet their fulfillment is experienced when His presence accompanies us as we respond in faith and obedience.
I take to your point wholeheartedly but the author spoke about God and His word and not God and the human response. So it was "God" in juxtaposition to "His word". You cannot separate God from His word. "In the beginning GOD SAID .." Gen. 1:1
True, however, the promises of God are activated through the faith of the believer, not the repetition of the words.
I believe the lesson author is correct. Consider an unbeliever reciting a promise of God as an incantation. Will such an incantation result in a fulfillment of the promise?
It is God who fulfills His promises, when these are appropriated by faith in Him. The words, in themselves, have no power, except as a believer appropriates them by faith - which implies a dependence on God to do as He has promised.
Inge – may I point out the following Scripture in support of that the 'Power fulfilling God's Word' is independend of man's choice:
Gen. 1:3 - ”Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
Psalm 33:9 - ”For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.”
Ezekiel 12:25 - ”For I the LORD will speak, and whatever Word I speak it shall be done, and it shall not be delayed any more; but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak a Word and do it, says the Lord GOD.”
These are examples of man being excluded when God fulfills His Word. The Power of His Word lays in His sovereignty, His creative authority. To help understand ‘Promises’ in this context, please consider His Promises not to be something He ‘gives away’, but rather the revealing of His Will. His Will is firm, regardless of its acceptance or rejection by man.
Hello Brigitte! I believe that you are comparing 🍎 to 🍊 There are the unconditional declarative words of God, and then there are the conditional promises of God. The latter category is not fulfilled in the life of an unbeliever. Hebrews 11:6 lays out the prerequisite of receiving rewards from God. The love of God is unconditional, however, the blessings of God are conditional upon faith.
Hebrews 4:2 speaks of not receiving the blessings intended for Israel because of unbelief. The statement "did not benefit them because of unbelief" refers to a biblical concept, most prominently found in Hebrews 4:2, where the author explains that the good news of God's promises to the ancient Israelites was of no value to them because they "did not share the faith of those who obeyed". Their lack of faith prevented them from receiving the promised blessings, highlighting that faith is essential to receive and benefit from God's word and promises.
Ray Edwards, I too have an issue with this statement. “There is nothing magical about the promises of God. They don’t have the power in and of themselves to secure their own fulfillment.”
I believe that this statement should have been worded another way. GOD’s words are powerful. In the beginning was The Word, The Word was with GOD, and The Word was GOD. If GOD said it, HIS promises will surely come to pass. GOD’s words are dependable and reliable because GOD is not a man that HE should lie. GOD is the same yesterday, today and forever. GOD’s promises are sure and speaks to HIS character. So HIS promises are powerful because it comes from HIM…you can’t separate the promises from GOD.
To be heirs of God’s promises means that by faith we already have the assurance of salvation and the future kingdom, even if we do not yet see it in full. God’s unchanging word guarantees it, and we live in faith as we await the inheritance to come.
NOT ALL ISRAEL ARE ISRAEL
The promises of God are conditional. Being born in the lineage of Abraham did not guarantee entrance into the Promised Land. Paul explains:
> “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’ That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.”
(Romans 9:6–8, NKJV)
Israel’s history illustrates this truth. Though all were delivered from Egypt, not all entered Canaan. God Himself said:
> “Because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers.”
(Numbers 14:22–23, NKJV)
Unbelief and disobedience disqualified them from the inheritance, even though they were Abraham’s descendants. This principle continues into the New Testament:
Faith: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Obedience: “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9).
Perseverance: “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” (Hebrews 3:14).
Thus, true heirs are those who walk by faith, obey God’s Word, and persevere to the end.
Gen. 17:7-8 – “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing – all the land of Canaan – as an eternal possession and I will be their God.”
Joshua 1:6 – “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”
What do we, the believers in Jesus Christ, inherit? God’s saving Grace! His Plan 'to save' started to unfold in the beginning of the history of mankind. Even the earth experienced the working-out of this Plan. Nations came and went, gods came and went, and then it was time to call Abram.
Fulfilling His promise to Abrahm to establish his children in the land of His choosing was only the first step. This gift came with strings attached, as it played a vital role in furthering the Plan of Salvation of mankind. At the right time, from among these people, was to be born the One who would bring God’s Light to mankind - revealing their true God to His people – Jesus Christ, divinity in the body of a man. He is still lighting the Way for mankind toward everlasting life – this is mankind's inheritance. Isaiah 35:8; John 10:9; John 14:6; Psalm 16:11; Jer. 6:16.
God has only promised good things for us. Even though we can be stubborn sometimes, and even though the promise may not be quite what we think, His reward is even better. God's mercy not only forgives but also overcomes our expectations. Moses did not go into the earthly Promised Land, but he got something even better: Heaven!
In Joshua 1:2–3, God says He is giving and has already given the land, showing the certainty of His promise. Yet Israel still had to meet the conditions of faith, obedience, and unity for the promise to become reality. In the same way, Christ has already secured the heavenly Canaan for us, but we must fulfill the conditions laid out in His Word—trusting, obeying, and persevering—so that what is ours by promise will one day be ours in full possession.
Having read all your comments, I agree that the promises are attained by faith and obedience. So I will not repeat often quoted scripture. However, it is not always a clear cut matter. Sometimes the Lord is saving his promises from sad consequences of stumbling faith and obedience.
Having read Genesis 12:10-20, I noticed that Abraham, travelling to Egypt to survive famine, for some reason conspired with Sarai, his wife, not to say that she was his wife, but his sister, with danger ahead.
Pharaoh took her to be his wife. Not only was Abrahm`s marriage endangered but also the universal promise given by God (Genesis 12:1-3). Had the Lord not intervened (Genesis 12:17-19), the universal promise, would have been obviously put to danger. In order to save His promise, the Lord had to intervene.
I wonder, how often the Lord has to intervene in our life. If, in weakness of faith or inclined to doubt, God must intervene to keep us on the right way. This does not do away with faith and obedience as condition of accepting His promise, incorporating it into our life. In Genesis 20:1-18 and Genesis 26:1-11 Abraham was repeating his first mistake, while Isaak followed Abraham in a similar situation. As the receivers of universal promise, both were endangering marriage and grace given promise.
I am glad that Christ as our good shepherd not only goes before us, leading us, but also behind us to watch over us and our weaknesses.
Winfried Stolpmann