What role does obedience play in receiving God's promises, as seen in Joshua 15:38? Setting the Scene • The book of Joshua records Israel finally entering and occupying the land God promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:7). • Joshua 15 lists the cities allotted to Judah. Verse 38—“Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel”—may look like a random roll call, but every name is a concrete reminder that God keeps His word. • The cities appear only because Judah obediently fought, drove out enemies, and claimed what God had already sworn to give (Joshua 15:13–15). Why Joshua 15:38 Matters • God’s promise was unconditional in origin (Genesis 15:18–21), but experiencing it was conditional in practice; Israel had to obey His battle plan (Joshua 1:7–9). • Forty years earlier the first generation balked at Kadesh (Numbers 14:1–4). Their disobedience delayed the promise. • Now, each listed town, including the trio in verse 38, declares: “Obedience opens the door to possession.” Obedience as the Pathway to Possession 1. God speaks a promise. – “Every place where the sole of your foot treads I have given you” (Joshua 1:3). 2. God assigns a step of faith. – Judah’s warriors still had to march, fight, and occupy (Joshua 15:13–17). 3. Obedience activates fulfillment. – Once they acted, the promise moved from paper to property—so real it could be mapped town by town. Patterns of Obedience throughout Scripture • Abraham: “By faith Abraham obeyed” and “went out” to inherit the land (Hebrews 11:8). • Israel: Blessing tied to “carefully doing all His commandments” (Deuteronomy 28:1–2). • Jesus: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). • New Covenant believers: “Through faith and patience we inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12). Practical Takeaways for Today • Identify the promise. Search Scripture and note exactly what God has said. • Listen for instructions. Often He attaches a step—repent, forgive, serve, speak out, wait. • Act promptly. Delayed obedience risks delayed blessing, as Israel’s wilderness years prove. • Expect tangible outcomes. God’s faithfulness shows up in real-life “territory”—changed hearts, restored relationships, needed provision. • Keep walking. Judah still had Philistines to face (Judges 1:18–19). Continuous obedience sustains continuous possession. Summary Joshua 15:38 may be a short list of towns, yet it shouts a larger truth: God’s promises become our lived reality when we respond in wholehearted obedience. |
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