The knowledge of God’s sovereignty encouraged Joshua and Israel to bold obedience. Their faith in God was seen in their actions. Joshua took all the land (Joshua 11:16); Joshua fought for a long time (Joshua 11:18); Joshua took all the land (Joshua 11:23). The people of Israel kept doing what God called them to do. They didn’t do it only once or twice; it was the pattern of their life during the invasion of Canaan. Their faith was seen in practical obedience. They made it their aim to please God.
The author of the letter to the Hebrews likewise makes it clear that while the promise of entering God’s rest through faith in Jesus Christ stands (Hebrews 4:1–2), it is of no use to those who are not united to Christ through faith. The promise of rest is not for those who confess to belong to God with their words only. True saving faith is seen in actions. Those grafted into Christ will bring forth fruits of thankfulness (Galatians 5:22–23; Heidelberg Catechism, Question 64).
It’s not easy to talk about our faith to people who have no interest in the gospel. It’s not easy acting with integrity if it means facing opposition. The obedience that comes from faith is not always comfortable. But it is an obedience in which we can wholeheartedly live because we know that our rest has been secured.
16 So Joshua took all that land, the hill country and all the Negeb and all the land of Goshen and the lowland and the Arabah and the hill country of Israel and its lowland