Two Kinds of Promises

You must operate by faith. That God sees to engage what God's gonna do that you do not see. Dr. Tony Evans says: when you trust God beyond what you can see, you'll start witnessing Him work in ways you never imagined. And nothing will make God more real to you and me as when He enters into our natural affairs supernaturally.

This is the alternative broadcast, featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans.

Some contracts are loaded with fine print, but God's covenant with the Israelites was clear. Choose obedience and live in His blessing. Today, Dr. Evan shows how deception and distraction can detour us from our purpose and how God's grace can still bring victory even if we've signed a bad deal in the past. Let's join him as he explains.

The book of Joshua is about the conquests. of the Canaan land, which was the promised land. Every Christian has a promised land, a place God wants to take you in history. The promised land is not heaven. It's God's purposes fulfilled in your life in history.

And so You want to fulfill Your purpose. That promise, that place God is taking you. But as we've seen thus far, the promised land didn't come without problems. There are problems in the promised land. Because they're the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Jebusites.

So, the promised land is not a place where there are no challenges, difficulties. But it is a place where you and god together Arrive in the fulfillment of your divine destiny.

So at the end of chapter 8. Joshua In verse 33, all of Israel with their elders and officers And their judges were standing on both sides of the ark before the Levitical priest. Who carried the ark of the covenant, which represented God's presence in the midst of his people? Half of them stood on Mount Gerzium, and half of them on Mount Ebo. Just as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had given command at first to bless the people of God.

So the purpose of blessing is your experience and extension of divine favor on your life. Afterward, he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded, which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.

So he wanted everybody to hear this.

Now, if you go back to Deuteronomy 30, where Moses did this, where Joshua is doing what Moses did. He has given them the blessings and the cursings. in making covenant with them in chapter 28. And then he comes and he makes this statement in verse 15: See, I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity. In that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments.

So that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.

So you see the connection between this statement and Joshua. And Joshua there in the land. Here in Deuteronomy, he's preparing them for the land. He says, in order to go in it and in order to maximize it, make sure you hear, pay attention to God. To his word and to his commandments.

And then he says, If your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to possess it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death. the blessing and the curse.

So choose life in order that you might live, you and your descendants.

So they would live or die based on their choice. God set before them life and death. He calls it life and prosperity, and he says. You choose. Why?

Because when God created you, he created you with a will. That will, freedom means a choice. There is no freedom unless there are options. If there are no options, then you're not free to choose it because there's no other choice. Yeah.

But if there is freedom, then that means there are options. That's why in the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve a choice. They could choose to eat the tree of life or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He gave a choice.

Now there's a battle for God wants you to choose this, the devil wants you to choose that.

Okay.

So God wants, here's the point. God wants To be your God by choice, not by mandate.

So therefore He offers you a choice. The problem with the choice is you don't control the consequences. Joshua is repeating it with Israel so that Israel could maximize. what the promised land had to offer. And in chapter nine, It comes about All the kings who are beyond the Jordan in the hill country.

They gather themselves together with one accord to fight Joshua, verse 2. With Israel.

So he's in the promised land, but he's got a problem in the promised land. The enemies are set against them. When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, The victories it already had. They also acted craftily and sent out an invoy. took worn out sacks on their donkeys, wineskins worn out, torn and mended, and worn out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn out clothes on themselves, and all the bread of their provisions was dry and had become crumbled or moldy.

So what are these folks trying to do? The Gibeonites heard. That Israel was on the march, and what they had done to Jericho and Ai, and they said, uh-oh. You know, so they're they're scared.

So they send out this envoy. To Joshua in verse 6, to the camp at Gilgal, and said, We have come from a far country.

Now, therefore, make an agreement with us.

So the men of Israel took some of their provisions and did not ask. For the counsel of the Lord. They bought it because it looked real. They bought it because it sounded real. I mean, they showed him the bread.

They showed him the sandals. They showed him the wine skins. Gotta be real. Because look at what my two eyes are seeing. But they did not seek counsel from the Lord.

In other words, they did not get God's perspective on the situation. Because remember, all you see is what you see. They did not take counsel of the Lord.

So, whenever the Bible drops those little statements in like that, It's saying pay attention now. It's saying catch the point. God was not brought into an what was an obvious situation, they had come from a long country, okay?

So. Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them based on what he saw. to let them live and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. It comes about now after the end of three days, where they make this covenant. That they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living within their land.

Yes.

So three days later, they find out these boys are up the street.

So the sons of Israel set out. and came to their cities on the third day. And their cities were Gibeon. And verse 18, the sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

So now they're mad at the leaders for making an agreement that violated what they were supposed to do with near neighbors. But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, We have sworn to them by the Lord. I'm going to make a very important point in a moment: the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them. This we will do to them, even let them live, so that the wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them. Very important point.

This is called a self-maledictory oath. A self-maledictory oath. A self-maledictory oath is an oath you make. Where if you break The oath the repercussions come back on you.

So it is a self-condemnation in light of the content of the oath.

So the leaders say, we can't break this oath because if we break this oath, the judgment due them. comes on us.

So he said, we can't do that.

So Leta said to them, verse. 21, let them live.

So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken.

So now they become servants to Israel.

Okay, since we're gonna let them live, we're gonna work on them. And not only are we going to work them, but we're going to have a spiritual impact on them. Notice verse 22 and 23. Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, why have you deceived us, saying we are very far from you, when you are living within our land?

Now therefore you are cursed. and you shall never cease being slaves. both hewers of wood and drawers of water, for the house of my God.

So he had him working on the temple.

So they answered and said, Because it was certain you told your servants that the Lord your God had commanded his servants Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants. We feared greatly for our lives because of you and have done this thing.

So, the reason we did this is because we were scared and we believed that this was the only way we could be preserved.

Now, behold, we are in your hands. Do with us. as you choose.

So they become then servants of Israel. But the principle I wanted to bring out of this particular story was the importance of consulting with God. and the power of an oath. Made. Dr.

Evans will return shortly with more on this story of God's guidance and the power of commitment. Before he does, though, I want to let you know that what we've been listening to today is just one installment in a powerful teaching series from Dr. Evans on the book of Joshua. It's a study about moving forward in faith, trusting God's timing, and stepping into the promises He's prepared for us. In this eye-opening series, we're discovering what it means to conquer obstacles, claim spiritual victories, and live with confidence, not in our own strength, but in God's power and provision.

We are offering the entire audio series on digital download as well as on either CD or USB flash drive as our thank-you gift when you support Tony's ministry with a financial contribution. And if we hear from you right away, we'll also include something extra, the Kingdom Family Devotional, a 52-week resource that makes it easy to grow in faith. As a family. Each week highlights a key spiritual topic with daily insights and action steps for every member of the family. Simple enough for kids to follow, but meaningful enough to inspire adults.

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Well, Dr. Evans is back now with more from the fascinating book of Joshua.

Now we come to chapter 10. In chapter 10, Israel is closing in on Jerusalem. They close in on verse one: the king of Jerusalem. And um He feared greatly. Verse two, because Gibeon, the group we just talked about, was a great city, like one of the rival cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

So The king of Jerusalem is scared that he's next.

So he calls together a bunch of other kings, verse 4. Come up to help me. And let us attack Gibeon. Because Gibeon has now become a servant to Israel. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the sons of Israel.

So the five kings of the Amorites, they get together, they gather together at the end of verse five and went up, they and their armies encamped by Gibeon and fought against it.

So Gibeon betrayed them. But trying to protect themselves.

So they're gonna Pay Gibeon back. for doing that, but they're also gonna set themselves up. by defeating Gibeon, which was already a mighty city, and set themselves up to come against Israel. Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua. Saying, do not abandon your servant.

We scared again. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us.

Well, they had a covenant with Gibeon. Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him and all the valiant warriors. The Lord said to Joshua, Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not one of them shall stand before you.

So Joshua came upon them suddenly, because he came by night. because he's marched all night. The Lord confronted them. Before Israel and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon. and pursued them by the way of Betharon, and struck them.

Verse 11, as they fled before Israel while they were. At the descent of Beth Haron, the Lord threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Askar, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones. than those who the sons of Israel killed with the sword. One of the principles of the New Testament is that we are workers together with God.

Throughout this book of Joshua, you've seen. God tell Joshua to do something and then God does something. That goes back to a principle we stated many times, and that is. You must operate by faith. That God sees.

To engage what God's going to do that you do not see. The hailstones didn't come down. Until the army had marched, moved, and begun the war that God told Joshua to do. Then heaven intervened in history. Many times we pray for heaven in our disobedience.

And we wonder why nothing is happening. We ought to call on God in our obedience. Verse verse 12. Then Joshua spoke. To the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel.

Oh, son. Stand still. At Gibeon. And O Moon in the valley of Elijah Lawn.

So the sun stood still and the moon stopped. Until the nation avenged themselves. of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jeshar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky.

Mm. And did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. There was no day like that before it or after it, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man. For the Lord fought for Israel. Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.

This is one of the greatest miracles in the Bible, and one of the least known. We know about the Red Sea and the crossing of the Jordan, you know. It says, God listened to the voice of a man.

Okay, let's review the situation. Joshua basically says, I need more daylight. To finish the job you asked me to do. which I'm committed to doing, I need more daylight.

So Stop the sun, stop the moon.

so that there is no longer any night coming until we finished. And nothing will make God more real to you and me. as when he enters into our natural affairs. supernaturally. When he comes out of left field and does something that you ask him to do.

That is Crazy.

So then we come to the the last half of chapter Chapter 10. When um These five kings come together. And they told Joshua, saying these five kings, verse 17. They are running, they're hidden in the cave. And this is from the army that they've been fighting.

So they're fleeing. Joshua's after them. These five kings run in the cave. Joshua says, Okay, I'll tell you what to do. Verse 18: roll a stone against the mouth of the cave and assign men by it to guard them.

So lock it up so they can't get out. And then we're going to pursue the rest of them.

So they pursue the rest of the guys who are running. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand.

So it comes about that Joshua verse 20 and Israel finished slaying them with the great slaughter until they were destroyed, except a few who had gotten to the fortified cities. Then Joshua said, open the mouth of the cave that had the five kings. He comes back. They did so. He brought out the five kings out.

In verse 24, when they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.

So they came near and put their feet on their necks. Joshua then said to them, Do not fear or be dismayed. Be strong and courageous, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies with whom you fight. Romans 16, 20. Satan will soon be crushed under your feet.

Okay, you keep going with God. I know Satan's attacking you. I know he's after you, but God told the Romans what he tells you. You keep on going, you keep on going, because soon. He gonna be under your total control.

He will be crushed under your feet.

So, that principle in Romans really was taken from this situation. And it comes to verse 40. Thus Joshua struck all the land. the hill country and the Ngave and the lowlands. Verse 42, Joshua captured all these kings.

and their lands at one time. because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.

So Joshua and all of Israel with him returned to Camp Gilgal. The point was That God completed This portion, we're going to go to the northern part next. But the southern part now is being destroyed. That's what all that list is about in those verses. Here's the closing point I want to make.

God kept his word, but he didn't keep his word apart from their activity. God's promises are sure.

So let me tell you the two kind of promises God gives us in the Word. There are hundreds and hundreds of promises in the Word. The promises fall into two categories.

Some promises are unconditional. In other words, they have nothing to do with what you do or do not do. That just God being faithful says, I'm going to do this regardless.

So those are the unconditional promises of God. For example, When you accept Christ, God promises to keep you saved.

So you can't lose your salvation. You can't become unsaved. Because The Bible says, even when you are faithless, he is faithful. When it comes to your salvations.

So that's an unconditionally promised that he gives to every believer. But a lot of our promises in our day-to-day life are conditional promises. They're promises, but they're tied. to the condition of our decision. And whether we are following through on what God said.

What a lot of people do is treat conditional promises as though they're unconditional.

So they expect God to meet the need without them meeting the condition.

So, I want to make that distinction. There are conditional and non-conditional promises. God made a promise, I'm going to give you the land. But he had made that promise 40 years earlier. But that previous generation didn't get the land.

because that previous generation didn't meet the condition.

So while the promise was sure, it was not to be experienced until the condition was met.

So, the question you have to ask is: Is what I'm expecting God to do conditional or non-conditional? And if it's conditional, what is the condition? And then now that I know the condition, am I meeting it? Because now once you're meeting the condition, You may be in the situation where God will listen. to the voice of Amen.

Dr. Tony Evans.

urging us to discern the difference between God's unconditional promises and those that require our obedience, and reminding us that when we meet God's conditions, we open the door for Him to move powerfully on our behalf.

Now, before we go, I wanted to mention that today's message called Two Kinds of Promises is part of Dr. Evans' series on the book of Joshua, a study that will help you discover how to overcome obstacles and step confidently into the victories God has planned for you. Don't forget when you make a donation to support Tony's ministry, we'll say thanks by sending you the complete audio series on Joshua, along with the Kingdom Family Devotional. Learn how to grow closer to God and closer as a family day by day. Get all the details and make your request online at tonyevans.org.

That's tonyevans.org. Or let one of our team members help you when you call 1-800-800-3222. That number again, 1-800-800-3222. Having a promise from God doesn't mean the journey will be easy. but it does mean he'll walk with you through the battles.

Tomorrow, Dr. Evans reveals how God's power isn't limited by numbers or resources. And how faith plus obedience is the key to unlocking his provision and purpose in our lives. Be sure to join us.