Chapters 18-21 of the book of Joshua are filled with specifications for the land allotments of the tribes.  Remember, this land allotment was significantly smaller than the land promised to Abraham.  The land would have been much larger had Abraham only walked the land promised to him.  That land would have extended from Turkey to the Persian Gulf following the Euphrates River, from the Persian Gulf to the Nile River, up the Mediterranean coast and back to Turkey.  Because of their disobedience, the land promised to them was never claimed and what they did have eventually was taken away from them and the people were taken into captivity.  There are consequences to disobedience then and now.

Only the tribe of Dan is listed as having difficulty taking possession of their territory. The tribe of Dan took property that was not given to them by God. They will pay for this sin later. None of the other tribes seemed to have had any problems.

Six cities are named as Cities of Refuge. This appears to be a foreshadowing of the places of safety that will be provided during the last days and also a foreshadowing of the protection from the wrath of God that only Jesus can provide. Notice that for each of Aaron's descendants is a City of Refuge.

Going back to the tribe of Dan and their difficulty in taking their God-given land, could it be that they did not trust the Lord's provisions for them? We have this promise listed , “Not one of the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”

God kept His promises then. He keeps His promises now. Here are a few of our favorite promises. John 14:15-18, John 14:1-3, I Corinthians 12, Isaiah 35:10, I John 5:14-15, John 14:27.

Claiming His promises is all about trust! We trust Him, we obey Him, He keeps His promises.  Pretty simple!