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.
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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)
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