Finish The Job

Focus verses: Judges 2:1-5

Even though the land was given to the Israelites, they failed to fulfill their part of the bargain. The Lord promised that He would go before them and drive the inhabitants out of the land, but the various Israelite clans failed to dislodge all the people living in the land they were to occupy.

Reading between the lines, it looks to me like they tried to do God's will in their own strength, without invoking the presence and power of the Lord. There is no mention that they asked the Lord to go before them in their campaigns.

When God gives us a job, we need to complete it. But we need to do it exactly as He said to do it. When we try to do God's will in our own strength, we always fail.

God told the Israelites that because they failed to complete their mission, the inhabitants of the land would be a thorn in their sides and their gods would be a snare to them.

We need to be careful to rid ourselves of those things that can be a stumbling block for us. God has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. But we need to do our part in driving out those things which distract us from Him and His will for our lives. Otherwise we, too, will have thorns in our side and snares waiting to trap us.

Father, God,

Help us to clean house in our lives. Shine the light of Your Holy Spirit on those things which would distract us from Your will, and go before us as we drive out everything but You.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Intolerance or Purity

Focus verses: Numbers 33:50-56

When the Israelites are about to enter the Promised Land, they are told to utterly destroy the holy things of the people they are about to displace. They are told to drive out the inhabitants, not simply to conquer them.

God is not talking about vengeance here. He is talking about purity. If they allow the holy places of the pagans to remain, they will become what is legally known as "an attractive nuisance." People are drawn to the forbidden. Tell a child not to go beyond a fence, and you can't turn your back but what he's trying to scale it, or burrow beneath it, or unlock the gate.

The Israelites are told to destroy the images and idols of the pagans. To demolish their places of worship. If they don't do this, they will be tempted just to see what goes on there. To look at the idols and images as pieces of art. And they are apt to be seduced by what they see, and their worship of God will be adulterated.

In some sense, you can't be both tolerant and pure. If you harbor people of differing beliefs, you must be strong and pure in what you believe, or you are apt to be led into believing half-ruths and innuendo.

God requires an undivided heart. If you give Him anything less, you are subject to judgment. He is a jealous God because He loves us. Not because he is a petty tyrant. He knows our propensity to be lead astray by curiosity, by idle wondering.

Father, God,

Help us to drive out anything that would hinder our fellowship with You. Show us the idols and high places in our lives so that we may destroy them in order to serve you better and draw nearer Your throne.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.