God Provides (Josh 21)

Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the people of Israel. And they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, “The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given cities to dwell in, along with their pasturelands for our livestock.” So by command of the LORD the people of Israel gave to the Levites the following cities and pasturelands out of their inheritance. (vs1-3)

God is the provider for His people. He provides by His word, commanding us, He provides by the hands of the brethren, encouraging us, and He provides unto the very end, saving us completely!

First, God provides through commandments (Josh 21:1-3). The Levites said, “The Lord commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their common-lands for our livestock. So the children of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their common-lands”. When we see what God says "do", then we know our inheritance, for He doesn't command in vain.

Trust in the Lord, knowing that His benefits, according to His word, are yours.

Secondly, God provides for us without breaking any promises to His children elsewhere, so there's sufficient for all (Josh 21:9-12). We read, “So they gave from the tribe of the children of Judah and from the tribe of the children of Simeon... but the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the Son of Jephunneh as his possession”. We are all protected, loved, and needing nothing. We don't take from others nor do we fear someone else prospering. God will never neglect anyone to exalt someone else, but we all have access to God, the Spirit, and the victory (Eph 3:12).  The gifts of God are big enough to grace all the believers.

Thirdly, God provides for us, even as He did the Levites, giving us all that we need, using willing brethren (Josh 13:-41-42). We read, “All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their common-lands. Every one of these cities had its common-land surrounding it; thus were all these cities”. Don't fear that He won't care for you.  The church is His place to revive us again, to hear the gospel, and to be encouraged by the saints unto holiness, by the Spirit. Just as the Levites got provision, God's people serve each other by commandment to the benefit of all. Hebrews 3:13 says, “but exhort one another daily, while it is called, Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin”. Recently, battling sinful temptation and coldness of heart, God used His word and His saints to encourage me. Not only is Christ preached by the gospel, but the love, concern, and overcoming of the brethren compels me on, as we are in like temptations. It is common together for refreshment, because God has ordained the church to refresh the members, the gathering together, the using of our gifts of exhortation and service, to be the power whereby He revives us again.

Finally, trust Him completely: He provides unto the end (Josh 21:43-45). He says, “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass”. He will do all that He's said.

Faith receives the promises... not mere desires... of God.  He speaks as having power to do His promises, even if they involve you. He says again, “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, Seek Me in vain; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right” (Is 45:19). In faithfulness, He's mighty to make us holy, make us continue in the faith, and He's mighty to save exactly as promised.  Never fear that you'll fail trusting Him, or He'll fail to pay off at the end. Hebrews 10:34-36 says, “you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise”.  He's promised heaven, promised to bring us there, and the promise is solid, safe, and sure.