Determined

Hello everyone. 

I haven't written anything in a while.  It's been so long in fact that I finished my study of Colossians, and have started a study of the book of Judges.  As I am sure you know Judges picks up where Joshua leaves off.  So early in Judges we see the generation after Joshua and how things went for them.

Joshua's generation had been devoted to the Lord but did not completely drive out some of the nations in the Promised Land.  That remainder of the job was to be finished by next generation, but they did not seem to take the task too seriously.  Here is what is says regarding the Canaanites in Judges 1:27, "But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land."  Here is what it says in Judges 1:35, "And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim."  

If you asked an Israelite of the time why they allowed these nations to stay, he might respond, "Well, they were determined to stay."  But what isn't being said is that apparently the Israelites were not all that determined to drive them out.  If they at least had equal determination to the Canaanites and the Amorites, they would have driven them out, because they had God on their side.  The fact they allowed these "determined" nations to remain led to now end of trouble for Israel for generations to come.  Had they been more determined to be obedient to God, perhaps they would have had less trouble in the coming generations. 

But does this mean for us?  Realize that there are forces at work that are pretty "determined" to lead us astray or lead us into sin.  But if we are just as determined to stay out of sin, understanding that God is on our side, won't He give us victory? 

Any way, a little something to think about.
Tom