Finishing The Task

After rebellion in the desert, a re-born Israel started out great in the Promised Land. So what happened?

Israel finishes up in Joshua on a high note having driven out the people who inhabited the land that God gave them. And they start out great in Judges where now individual tribes take on the Canaanites and win.

But something happens in Judges 1:27 "Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of ..." That same phrase is repeated over and over again. It's almost like the Israelites grew tired of the battles and just gave up, allowing the Canaanites to live with them in the land. What a mistake!

God told them to completely wipe out the Canaanites or they would become a snare that would lead Israel into idolatry and rebellion once again. And that's exactly what happened.

I think the lesson for us is to not give up on getting rid of the flesh and wordly influences in our lives. We get saved and forgiven but the old nature still tries to bring us down from within and the world system around us tries to draw us away from God.

In the meantime the Holy Spirit is in the process of transforming us into God's image. He does this through our relationship with Him and through trials. James tells us to let those trials have their perfect work. In other words, let the process continue. Don't get to a certain point and think you have arrived as a believer. You may find yourself being drawn away or down. A boat in a river will always float downstream unless someone is paddling.

Pastor Tom