Judges 1st Chapter verses 22 - 36 and Chapter 2 verses 1 - 5
Similar to the story of Jericho, the man who tells them the secret entrances to the city of Luz is spared with all of his family. He then goes on to found another city naming it Luz now that the Israelites renamed the newly conquered city Bethel.
We now hear that the tribes of Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Dan go in to take their lands but do not drive out all of the enemy. This was to be their land, given by God. God doesn't give half promises, he doesn't give and then take away, he doesn't promise something and not fulfill his promises. These tribes of Israel went in and did not follow the commandments of God. They would till this very day, pay for the fact that they did not complete their part of the promise.
Whenever we compromise with Satan, or compromise with the world, we are essentially saying that we don't fully believe in the promises of Christ and his resurrection. I have fallen short myself, but if we seek his forgiveness we can go on in Christ's name. Given this, there is a price to pay for sin after salvation. The children of Israel were delivered according to God's promise. The taking and dwelling of Canaan was their life for Christ so to speak. That which we sow, we shall also reap.
Hebrews 10:26 - 29
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
These are not the most popular verses in Christianity; maybe they should be. We will pay for our sins committed after our 'knowledge of the truth'. Israel payed dearly for not listening to God's commands about taking and dwelling in the land of Canaan. Dwelling among the Canaanites was one thing, but then later taking their gods and their customs was quite another.
Judges 2: 1 - 5
Here comes and angel of the Lord to give a warning that is just in time if they heed the warning. Unfortunately they don't hold it to their hearts for long.
The angel commands them to make to covenants or alliances with these people; destroy their alters and serve only the true God that they now serve. We know that this warning was foretelling of what was to come and what was to be the next several hundred years of Israel's existence.
It is so with us, that if we make bargains, or live for the things of this world more than for God and his kingdom, the pleasures and vanities of this world will be our snares and thorns in our side.
Just as Israel wept, we should as well. God has given us a wonderful country, with wonderful opportunities to live a life for him and HIS purpose. We ought to weep and then serve him with fear and trembling; always heeding the warning unlike what happens in the rest of the book of Judges.
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