Obedience Over Praise 🙇 | Joshua 22 Devotional (7-Step QT)

7-Step QT Notes

1. 🙏 Quiet Time

Pause.

Take a deep breath.

Ask God to teach you why obedience matters more than recognition.

2. 📅 December 21, 2025

Today’s passage reminds us:

True blessing comes through obedience, not applause.

3. ✝️ Joshua 22:1–9

Joshua commends the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for faithfully obeying Moses’ and his commands and for supporting their brothers in battle. Now that God has given rest to Israel, Joshua sends them back to their land east of the Jordan with a blessing, urging them to love the LORD, walk in His ways, and keep His commandments wholeheartedly. He instructs them to divide the spoils of war with their brothers. They return to Gilead with great wealth, livestock, and goods, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

4. 📖 Key Verse

“You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. 3 You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the LORD your God.” (vv. 2b-3)

5. 📝 Reflection

There was once a phrase that became a cultural phenomenon: “Praise can make even a whale dance.” It was more than just a bestseller; it influenced society and culture profoundly. Even today, many parents believe that praise and encouragement are essential in raising children, and employers see praise as a key virtue in motivating employees. The idea that praise can change people remains strong.

However, Scripture teaches differently. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh received land east of the Jordan through Moses. But there was a condition: they had to cross the Jordan with their brothers, fight at the forefront until Canaan was fully conquered, and remain until the other nine and a half tribes received their inheritance. They kept their promise, and in today’s passage, Joshua blesses and commends them as they return to their land.

Beloved, the biblical principle is clear: praise should not be the driving force behind our choices and actions—God’s Word and His commands should be. The Bible says, “Obey,” not “Follow because you were praised.” Are we waiting for God’s praise today, following the world’s principle? God blesses those who obey His Word. Therefore, obedience must come first. Let obedience, not praise, be the driving force of your life. May you be blessed as you walk in faith and obedience.

6. 💬 What does this passage speak to you today?

  • Where am I tempted to seek approval instead of obeying God?
  • How can I make obedience—not praise—the motivation for my choices?
  • What step of faith is God calling me to take today?

7. 🙏 Prayer

Lord, help me obey Your Word even when no one sees.

Teach me to love You more than recognition.

May my life reflect faith-driven obedience that honors You.

Amen.

Scriptures

📖 1 At that time Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 2 and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. 3 You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the LORD your God. 4 And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 5 Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” 6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.

7 Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua had given a possession beside their brothers in the land west of the Jordan. And when Joshua sent them away to their homes and blessed them, 8 he said to them, “Go back to your tents with much wealth and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.” 9 So the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned home, parting from the people of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, their own land of which they had possessed themselves by command of the LORD through Moses (Joshua 22:1-9, ESV).

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