How does Joshua 18:23 encourage us to claim God's promises in our lives? Setting the Scene – Where Joshua 18:23 Fits Joshua 18 describes how the remaining tribes receive their allotments after Israel has entered the land. Verse 23 names three seemingly small towns in Benjamin’s territory: “Avvim, Parah, Ophrah”. Even this short list carries a powerful message about God’s faithfulness. Why a Simple Town List Strengthens Faith • Every inch of Canaan had been promised to Abraham centuries earlier (Genesis 13:14-17). By recording exact borders and villages, Scripture shows that promise being carried out down to the last stone. • God’s Word is so precise that even places some maps hardly register are preserved. That accuracy invites us to trust Him with the precise details of our own lives (Psalm 37:23). • Because Joshua wrote these allotments while people still lived and walked there, the record doubles as historical proof that the covenant was literally fulfilled, “not one word failed” (Joshua 21:45). What Joshua 18:23 Tells Us About God’s Promises 1. They are specific, not vague. 2. They are delivered tribe by tribe, family by family—so they will also meet you person by person. 3. They stand the test of time; centuries cannot erode them (1 Kings 8:56). 4. They rest on God’s character, not on our size or fame—Avvim, Parah, and Ophrah were obscure, yet fully included. Stepping Out to Claim Those Promises Today • Search the Word: List promises that apply to believers in Christ (e.g., John 14:27; Philippians 4:19; 2 Peter 1:3-4). Write them out as concretely as the towns in verse 23. • Pray with specificity: Instead of a general “help me,” name the particular area you’re trusting God for—He welcomes detailed faith (Mark 10:51-52). • Stake a reminder: Benjamin could walk the borders and see God’s faithfulness under their feet. Place Scripture cards, phone reminders, or journal entries where you will “walk” past them daily (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). • Stand on Christ: “For all the promises of God find their ‘Yes’ in Him” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Approach every promise through the finished work of Jesus. • Record the victories: When a promise is fulfilled, mark it as firmly as Joshua marked towns. Testimony fuels fresh faith (Psalm 145:4-6). Takeaway – The God Who Finishes What He Starts If the Lord cared enough to list Avvim, Parah, and Ophrah, He cares enough to complete every promise He has spoken over you. Walk the territory He has assigned, claim it in faith, and watch Him prove—again—“Not one of the good promises the LORD had made to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled” (Joshua 21:45). |
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