HOW LONG ARE GOD’S PROMISES GOOD FOR?

The Book of Joshua #17

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

(2 Corinthians 1:20) “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”

1.  Faith acts on the promises of God

(Joshua 18:1–3, NLT) “Now that the land was under Israelite control, the entire community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle. But there remained seven tribes who had not yet been allotted their grants of land. Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given to you?”

(Joshua 17:3–4, NLT) “However, Zelophehad, … had only daughters, … These women came to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us a grant of land along with the men of our tribe.” So Joshua gave them a grant of land along with their uncles, as the Lord had commanded.”

a.  Godly zeal moves ahead while others dawdle.

b.  You only possess what you occupy.

LAP – Step into what God has promised in Christ. What is your calling? Your next act of obedience.

2.  God is powerful enough to defeat your enemies in the place He placed you.

a.  Judah shares with Simeon.

(Joshua 19:9, NLT) “Their allocation of land came from part of what had been given to Judah because Judah’s territory was too large for them. So the tribe of Simeon received an allocation within the territory of Judah.”

b.  Difficult places are divine appointments.

(Joshua 19:47, NLT) “But the tribe of Dan had trouble taking possession of their land, so they attacked the town of Laish.”

c.  Faith and courage are needed when things look impossible.

(Galatians 6:12, Message) “They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ’s suffering and death.”

(1 Corinthians 16:13, NLT) “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.”

d.  The goal was for their neighbors to see the difference faith makes.

The kingdom of God will grow on earth as the church creates an alternative society demonstrating what the world is not, but one day will be: Barth’s prescription of “a new sign which is radically dissimilar to [the world’s] own manner and which contradicts it in a way which is full of promise.” A society that welcomes people of all races and social classes, that is characterized by love and not polarization, that cares most for its weakest members, that stands for justice and righteousness in a world enamored with selfishness and decadence, a society in which members compete for the privilege of serving one another—this is what Jesus meant by the kingdom of God. – Phillip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew, p 253

LAP – Grow and shine where God has placed you. Faith and character display the glory of God.

3.  Joshua is given his mountain.

(Joshua 19:49–51, NLT) “After all the land was divided among the tribes, the Israelites gave a piece of land to Joshua as his allocation. For the Lord had said he could have any town he wanted. He chose Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the town and lived there. These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the tribal leaders allocated as grants of land to the tribes of Israel by casting sacred lots in the presence of the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle at Shiloh. So the division of the land was completed.”

a.  Joshua served first and was rewarded last.

b.  Timnath-serah means abundant portion. –The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names, p 238

c.  Joshua’s portion reflects God’s faithfulness.

d.  Joshua like Abraham let Lot choose.

e.  Boundaries are spatial, temporal, and relational.

There were several good reasons for establishing these well-set boundaries instead of turning the Promised Land into a single undivided nation: (1) The boundaries gave each tribe ownership of an area, promoting loyalty and unity that would strengthen each tribe. (2) The boundaries delineated areas of responsibility and privilege, which would help each tribe develop and mature. (3) The boundaries reduced conflicts that might have broken out if everyone had wanted to live in the choicest areas. (4) The boundaries fulfilled the promised inheritance for each tribe, many declared in the blessings given many years earlier by Jacob (Genesis 48:21-22). Life Application Study Bible, note for Joshua 19:51

LAP – God’s boundaries are your provision and protection.

4.  The Cities of Refuge

(Joshua 20:1–3, NLT) “The Lord said to Joshua, “Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed.”

a.  Appointed by God.

b.  A city of mercy.

• Kedish – righteousness
• Shechem – shoulder
• Hebron – fellowship
• Bezer – fortress
• Ramoth – heights
• Golan – separated

(Hebrews 6:18, NLT) “We who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.”

LAP – Christ is our city of refuge.

5.  The Levites got the Lord of the land.

(Joshua 21:3, NLT) “So by the command of the Lord the people of Israel gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own grants of land.”

a.  The Levites were to teach and influence each tribe to be courageous and faithful.

b.  The Levites possessed their possession, a covenant of intimacy and ministry before the Lord.

(Psalm 63:1, NLT) “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.”

(Joshua 1:6-9) “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

LAP – Our portion is always the Lord, and sometimes only the Lord.

GROWTHWORK

(Joshua 21:43–45, NLT) “So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”

God’s promises never expire!