Is there anyone we can trust anymore? For years, we’ve expected our scientists and engineers to come up with new solutions for every problem that comes along. We’ve expected our governments to educate our children and protect our borders and keep our homes and property safe.

And then the tiniest of lifeforms brings all of us to our knees, revealing the impotence or incompetence of everyone and everything we thought to be so strong and powerful and trustworthy. So, in whom can we place our trust?

The very end of Joshua 21 reminds us that nothing is impossible for God. The people of Israel started out as nothing more than slaves in Egypt, which was at that time the wealthiest and the most powerful nation on Earth. Even though God had promised their ancestors that they would one day dwell as free people in another land, hundreds of years had passed, and they had lost hope.

And then God showed up. He sent ten massive plagues on the Egyptians who threw the people out of the land so quickly they didn’t even have time for their bread to rise (Exodus 12:33-34). He parted the waters of the Red Sea to allow them to escape from Pharaoh’s pursuing army (Exodus 14:26-29). He led them through the desert for 40 years, in spite of their constant grumbling and rebellion. He stopped up the Jordan River to allow them to cross into the land He had promised to give them (Joshua 3:14-17). He caused the walls of their enemies’ cities to collapse (Joshua 6:20), and rained down hailstones on their enemies’ soldiers, defeating them in battle (Joshua 10:11).

In short, God proved that the mightiest armies, the most authoritative governments, and even the forces of nature itself were no match for His sovereign power. God was both able and willing to keep all the promises He had made to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

And the cross and the empty tomb prove He is able to keep all the promises Jesus has made to us too. Listen to some of them:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

“I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you, that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:35-37).

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).

Those are the promises of our almighty, merciful, loving God to us. Can’t we trust in Him today?

Joshua 21:43-45 (NASB)

43 So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. 44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.