If God Keeps All His Promises, Why Do We Keep Ignoring His Warnings?

Do We Really Believe God? (Joshua 23:14–16)Or are we just repeating Israel’s mistakes?

Let’s be honest: some parts of the Bible hit a little too close to home. Joshua 23 is one of them.

Here’s the scene: Joshua is old. He’s at the end of his life, speaking final words to Israel—this people he’s led through battles, into victories, and into the promised land. And his tone is serious. No fluff. No motivational speech. Just truth.

He says:

“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed." (Joshua 23:14, ESV)

Powerful, right?

He reminds them: God kept every single promise. Every. Single. One.

But then… the mood shifts:

“But just as all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the LORD your God has given you, if you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God…” (vv.15–16)

Translation? God is faithful to bless, but He is also faithful to discipline.

We love the promise-keeping God.

But do we also believe in the justice-honoring God?

Do We Believe It?

Joshua says, “You know this. In your hearts and souls you know this.”

That line has been echoing in my head: Do I?

Do I actually believe that not one word of God fails? Not just the happy verses, but the hard ones too?

I think sometimes we treat God’s warnings like the terms and conditions box on a website—click “Agree” and move on. But Joshua’s saying: Don’t forget who you're dealing with. He’s holy. He’s faithful. And He means what He says—on both sides of the coin.

So here’s the tension:We believe God is good.

We believe He keeps His promises.

But… we also keep sinning like the Israelites did.

Why?

The Cycle We’re Stuck In

If you’ve read Judges (literally the next book), you know what happens after Joshua dies. Israel spirals.

• Forgetfulness.

• Idolatry.

• Disobedience.

• Consequences.

• Desperation.

• God’s mercy.

• Repeat.

It’s easy to read that and get frustrated. “Come on, guys! Didn’t you hear Joshua’s warning?”

But then… I look at my own life. And ouch. I’ve seen God’s faithfulness. I’ve tasted His mercy. I’ve been rescued, forgiven, restored.

And still—some days, I run right back to the same sins I was freed from.

Why is that?

Because we’re still prone to forget.Because we still struggle to believe—truly believe—that God's words apply to us.

Because we treat grace like a safety net instead of a call to live differently.

Grace Isn’t a Free Pass

Let me be clear: God's grace is real, powerful, and transforming. Jesus took the punishment we deserved. For those who trust in Him, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). But that doesn't mean there are no consequences. That doesn't mean we can keep flirting with sin like it’s harmless.

Joshua was warning Israel: God means what He says.

And that same warning echoes today. Jesus didn’t save us so we could keep dancing with darkness. He saved us to set us free.

So What Do We Do?

We don’t need more guilt. We need more honesty. More awareness. More remembering.

We need to get real with God and ask:

• Lord, where am I forgetting who You are?

• Where have I been taking Your grace for granted?

• Where do I say I believe Your Word, but live like I don’t?

And then—we run back to Him.

Not to try harder, but to trust deeper.

Because the more we trust who God is—the more we believe that every word He speaks is true—the less we'll want to chase the things that break His heart.

Final Thoughts

Joshua was basically saying, “Don’t just remember the victories. Remember the warnings.”

Not because God is harsh, but because He is holy. Because He loves His people enough to call them to something better.

So the question remains:

Do we actually believe God? Or are we just nodding along, while quietly following our own way?

Let’s not just believe in a God who keeps His promises. Let’s live like we believe Him—every word of Him. Because not one has failed. And not one ever will.

Grace and Peace,