The God of Second Chances 

“The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” – Genesis 17:8

Today, while reading in the book of Joshua, I was struck by something I’d never noticed before…the stories in Exodus and Joshua, where Israel is on the verge of going into the land God has promised, have some interesting similarities:

In both cases:

  • ·        The Israelites celebrate a Passover meal – In Exodus it was the first Passover, in Joshua it was a celebration of God’s faithfulness.
  • ·        God parts a body of water – in Exodus it was the Red Sea, in Joshua it was the Jordan river.
  • ·        Spies are sent into the land first

In Exodus, 10 of the 12 spies sent into Canaan report back that even though the land does indeed flow with milk and honey, the cities are fortified and large and the inhabitants are powerful.  They recommend not going into the land, and their lack of faith is what causes them to have to wander the desert for 40 more years.

The pastor at my church is fond of saying, “failure is not final.” 

It means that our God is a God of second chances, and even when we screw up – He remains faithful.

For you see, WAAAAY back in the Bible, long before Joshua, or Moses – back when we were introduced to a man named Abraham, God promised to make him into a great nation and to give him the whole land of Canaan.  However, time and time again, through sin, disobedience, and lack of faith, the Israelites caused the postponement of that promise. 

In the book of Joshua, Israel FINALLY enters land of Canaan, and the first town they come to is Jericho. 

The city is fortified by big walls, but God tells the Israelites that they should march around the city walls for six days, and on the 7th blow their trumpets and shout.  He said that then the city walls would come tumbling down and they could enter in.  And do you know what, that is JUST WHAT HAPPENED!

How crazy!  How easy!  How wonderful!

The fortified cities they had talked about earlier were not a problem because God made a promise.  And though they failed over and over again, when the people of Israel finally trusted that promise, God delivered…

That gives me hope.  For just like the Israelites, I too have failed over, and over again.  But I thank God for second chances and His promise that my failures are not final.    

 


 

 

 

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