God's faithfulness in the details

The Old Testament Book of Joshua has some of the most exciting action narratives in the Bible, but it has a lot of boring parts too. In fact, the majority of Joshua is lists of hard-to-pronounce names. Chapters 12 - 21 are a challenge for any reader determined to read through the Bible. There are lists of the kings defeated by Moses, lists of the inheritances given east of the Jordan, and west of the Jordan, lists of cities allotted to each of the tribes, and lists of the cities designated as cities of refuge (a reminder that God's will for Israel included justice for the exile and sojourner). What seems like mind-numbing minutiae is the climax of Joshua's account of God's covenant-keeping faithfulness to Israel. The Holy Spirit saw fit to inspire the writer to put it all down just so. The details serve to underscore the primary theological message of Joshua.

Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. 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. Josh. 21:43-45

With this crescendo the writer makes clear that the conquest of the land, and the Sabbath rest that looks back to creation and forward to Christ, are because of Yahweh's faithfulness. Not Israel's faithfulness! For after Joshua comes Judges. Within a generation Israel would descend into chaos and idolatry, but God continued to work out his redemptive purposes through this rebellious and stiff-necked people. The covenant with Abraham stands. In Christ, the yes and amen of all the good promises, all will come to pass.