2. One by One – Counting the Faithfulness of God

By Tyson Ibrahim Jacob

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Scripture Focus:

“The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, one; the king of Jerusalem, one…”
–Joshua 12:9 (KJV)

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Devotional Thought:

After Moses passed away, Joshua led the Israelites into the land God had promised them, a land already occupied by strong nations and powerful kings. Each region they entered was ruled by its own king, guarded by armies, and filled with cities surrounded by high walls. To take possession of this land, Israel had to fight battle after battle, trusting that the same God who parted the Red Sea would give them victory again.

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At first glance, Joshua 12 might read like a dry list of old battle reports, king after king, name after name, and always the same phrase: “one… one… one.”
Thirty-one kings in total.

To some, it may feel repetitive. But to the people of Israel, this was a testimony list.
Each “one” represented:

• One obstacle overcome
• One land reclaimed
• One fear defeated
• One prayer answered

This wasn’t just war history; it was divine accounting, a detailed record of God’s faithfulness, one victory at a time.

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Why This Matters for Us

We often move so fast from one challenge to the next that we forget to pause and count the wins.
But God is not vague in His victories.
He counts. He records. He celebrates.

If Joshua 12 teaches us anything, it’s that we, too, should record our victory reports, no matter how small they seem.

One job breakthrough.
One day of peace.
One year free from addiction.
One heart mended.
One answered prayer.

One by one.

Each one tells the story of a faithful God who never fails to finish what He starts.

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Personal Reflection:

In my own life, I’ve faced many battles, and sometimes, I forgot to celebrate the ones I won because I was already worried about the next.

But reading Joshua 12 reminded me that God wants us to remember, recount, and retell our story.

I challenge you today: take a pen and start your own Joshua 12.

• List the mountains He moved.
• List the things you thought would destroy you – but didn’t.
• List the times you thought it was over – but grace showed up.

Each “one” is worth writing down.

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Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the victories I sometimes forget to count.
Teach me to pause, remember, and give You glory for every win, big or small.
Let my memory of Your faithfulness be my fuel for tomorrow’s battles.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Faith Exercise for the Week:

Each night this week, write down one thing God helped you overcome that day.
By Sunday, look back and see how many “ones” He’s already given you.

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Tyson Ibrahim Jacob is the founder of Faith Exercises Ministries and author of the Faith Exercises book. He is also the founder of TMI Life Concerns, a company dedicated to business consulting, life coaching, and empowering individuals to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually.

Based in Washington, USA, Tyson leads Faith Exercises Ministries, a registered organization serving people around the world through messages of faith, purpose, and transformation. As a speaker, pastor, and entrepreneur, Tyson inspires individuals globally to deepen their faith, embrace their purpose, and build lives of lasting impact.