Notice the verb tense the Lord used in verse 2. He used the past tense to speak of a future event. We know that God did not make a grammar mistake here; there is a reason why He used the past tense in this way here. He was affirming His sovereign authority over the situation. He was speaking of the future victory He will give Joshua and the Israelites in the past tense, because He had already willed it to happen and nothing can stop Him from bringing to pass what He wills. God’s choice of verb tense was to reveal His identity to Joshua and to give Joshua courage. 

We see something similar in Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17. In verse 4, Jesus said to the Father, “I have glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” Here, we see Jesus used the past tense to speak of a future event; in this case, the Cross. Just as Jericho’s fall was sure in Joshua 6, so was Jesus’ lifting up on the Cross in John 17.

What sure promises of God do you need to rest in today?