Joshua 24: 13 "I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat."
These are the words of the Lord God to the leaders of the tribes of Israel spoken through Joshua. God took Abraham from among the fathers who were all worshipping imaginary gods and led him like a child through all the land of Canaan, multiplied his seed and gave him Isaac. It was God who gave Isaac Esau and Jacob.
God gave Esau Seir but led Jacob down into Egypt. Then God sent Moses and Aaron to deliver His chosen people out of bondage. God ordered the plagues that came upon the land and people of Egypt. It was this same God who brought out Israel who was all their lives in bondage in Egypt. God commanded the darkness to be upon their enemy. He commanded the sea and drowned the enemy. God alone performed all that was necessary for the deliverance of the children of Israel out of bondage.
God led His people through the wilderness and brought His people into the land of the Amorites. When these people fought with Israel it was God who gave them into the hand of Israel. It was God who gave Israel their lands to possess. God says, "I destroyed them from before you." God delivered Israel out of the hand of Balak. God delivered seven nations stronger than Israel into the hands of Israel but rather than use the people of Israel He used His creation, the hornet, to drive the enemy out.
God is clear. No man should mistake his words. "But NOT with THY SWORD, NOR with THY BOW." The children of Israel gained not a single victory over the enemy by their own strength. Not one time did God give them room to boast. God, who will not share His glory with another, gave, built, planted, directed, destroyed and delivered for His great name's sake. Therefore, God says, "I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat."
These are the words in which God will speak to every believer in that day when His children are called home. All glory, all praise, and all honor from every delivered saint will be to the Lord of salvation who has prepared a place for us. All songs of praise will be sung to Christ Jesus who is the chief corner stone of Zion—the foundation of that great city. In that flourishing vineyard the fruit of Christ's perfection and obedience will be the wine of our joy in the day that we are perfectly conformed to Him. Through His Son, God has given an undeserving people a land for which we did not labor, a city like no other that He alone has built, vineyards and olive yards of which God is the Husbandmen. It is even by Him alone that His people will dwell there and feast upon His goodness forever.
Clay Curtis
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