What role does obedience play in receiving God's promises, as seen in Joshua 13:28? Setting the Scene • After years of warfare, Joshua begins distributing the land God promised to Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12:7). • Gad, Reuben, and half-Manasseh had chosen territory east of the Jordan (Numbers 32). Their right to keep it hinged on one condition: fight alongside their brothers until all Canaan was subdued. The Text in Focus “ ‘This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Gad, including the cities and villages.’ ” (Joshua 13:28) Obedience Paved the Way 1. A conditional promise • Numbers 32:20-22—Moses: “If you will go armed before the LORD… then afterward you may return, and you shall be free of obligation.” 2. Faithful follow-through • Joshua 1:16—Gadites answer Joshua: “All that you command us we will do.” • Joshua 22:4—Joshua later affirms, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you.” 3. Resulting inheritance • Joshua 13:28 records the tangible outcome: cities, villages, pasturelands—exactly what they had hoped for. Why Obedience Matters in Receiving Promises • Demonstrates trust: doing what God says because His word is true (Hebrews 11:8). • Satisfies covenant terms: blessings were always linked to hearing and doing (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). • Protects from loss: disobedience forfeits enjoyment of what God gives (Numbers 14:22-23). A Thread Woven through Scripture • 1 Samuel 15:22—“To obey is better than sacrifice.” • John 14:21—“Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me… I will reveal Myself to him.” • James 1:25—The doer of the word “will be blessed in what he does.” Lessons for Today • God’s promises are sure, yet He calls us to cooperate through obedience. • Delayed fulfillment is not denial; sometimes the promise waits for our faith-filled action. • Obedience does not earn God’s favor—grace does—but it positions us to enjoy what grace provides. Putting It into Practice • Review any “unfinished battles” God has asked you to fight—habits to break, relationships to mend, ministries to join. • Align choices with His word today; possession of tomorrow’s blessing often hinges on today’s obedience. • Celebrate each step of faith, just as Gad’s families could walk through their new towns and say, “The Lord kept His word—and we kept ours.” |
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