The Story: Chapter 7-8 The Bible: Joshua 23-24, Judges 1-2
Joshua is coming to the length of his years and now it is time to dismiss the Israelites to settle in the land of Canaan—each tribe to secure its own portion of land. As we remember, Joshua’s farewell comes with a stern warning:
Joshua 23:12-13 But if you ever turn away and make alliances with these nations that remain near you, and intermarry with them and establish friendly relations with them, know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. They will trap and ensnare you; they will be a whip that tears your sides and thorns that blind your eyes until you disappear from this good land the LORD your God gave you.
The people have committed to following the LORD. Joshua has entered their agreement into the Law Scroll of God and a stone has been set in place as a witness (Joshua 24:25-27). Joshua has now been laid to rest at the age of 110. It is now time for the various tribes to take possession of the land allotments God has provided. And we must keep in mind that nations will not be conquered because of Israel’s righteousness or that Israel deserves some bonus gift; but destruction will come because of the evil and idolatry the nations have committed against the LORD. This is the reason that Israel as God’s chosen people must totally destroy all evil from the land they are to inherit; this is the reason they are not to mingle with, marry with, nor assimilate into other nations.
All starts out reasonably well with the tribes of Judah and Simeon aiding each other to conquer their allotted lands. Defeat is total and God is with them. Caleb’s clan also fulfill their tasks according to the God’s instructions. These events are recorded in Judges 1:1-20, 22-26.
Then, as my Bible indicates by a subheading, comes the “Partial Success” of the tribes recorded in Judges 1:21, 27-36:
· v. 21 Benjamin did not conquer…
· v. 27 Manasseh did not conquer… nor their surrounding towns… they never totally conquered them
· v. 29 Ephraim did not conquer…
· v. 30 Zebulun did not conquer…
· v. 31 Asher did not conquer…
· v. 33 Naphtali did not conquer…
· v. 34 Amorites forced the people of Dan to live in the hill country…
It has been said that the Book of Joshua describes the establishing and building up of God’s chosen people while the Book of Judges describes the deterioration of God’s chosen people. The angel of the LORD—the LORD’s messenger who is to be treated with the same respect as Yahweh for he speaks the words of Yahweh to the people—brings words of indictment:
Judges 2:1-3 He said, “I brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land I had solemnly promised to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.’ But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing? At that time I also warned you, ‘If you disobey, I will not drive out the Canaanites before you. They will ensnare you and their gods will lure you away.’”
We have not been called to conquer lands, but we have been called to be a faithful people of God. We have been called to remain true and not to compromise with the world. Compromise with the world lures us away from God. The hard truth is “Partial Success” is failure to obey.
Why would we do such a thing?
Today’s Prayer Suggestion: Take time to examine your life for ways or areas in which you might be compromising with world standards. Yield these areas to the LORD and ask for guidance and strength to remain faithful to your Heavenly Father.
The devotional Why would we do such a thing? appeared first on Write From My Heart at
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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright © 1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
General format for WFMH devotionals will follow the pattern of chapters outlined in The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, M. Lucado & R. Frazee, Zondervan, 2005, 2008, 2011.
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