Discovering Your Truth

How Far Will You Stray?

The Bible records for us many times where the nation of Isreal fell away from God even though he performed miracles before their very eyes. I think a lot of us laugh at them and how weak-willed they were as if we were any different. These following verses take place after the death of Joshua, the people of Isreal were promised a land of their own from God but as we know there were pagan tribes that dwelled there. It was God's desire for his people to wipe out these sinful groups of people. And when I say sinful I want all of you to understand that these people were horrible, God does not punish a country or a people group without cause.

Judges 1:16-34

16 The descendants of Moses' father-in-law, the Kenite, went up from the City of Palms with the people of Judah to live among the inhabitants of the Desert of Judah in the Negev near Arad.

17 Then the men of Judah went with the Simeonites their fellow Israelites and attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and they totally destroyed the city. Therefore it was called Hormah. 18 Judah also took Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron—each city with its territory.

19 The Lord was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains because they had chariots fitted with iron. 20 As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove from it the three sons of Anak. 21 The Benjamites, however, did not drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites.

22 Now the tribes of Joseph attacked Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 23 When they sent men to spy out Bethel (formerly called Luz), 24 the spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him, "Show us how to get into the city and we will see that you are treated well." 25 So he showed them, and they put the city to the sword but spared the man and his whole family. 26 He then went to the land of the Hittites, where he built a city and called it Luz, which is its name to this day.

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. 28 When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely. 29 Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live there among them. 30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, so these Canaanites lived among them, but Zebulun did subject them to forced labor. 31 Nor did Asher drive out those living in Akko or Sidon or Ahlab or Akzib or Helbah or Aphek or Rehob. 32 The Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land because they did not drive them out. 33 Neither did Naphtali drive out those living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath; but the Naphtalites too lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, and those living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became forced laborers for them. 34 The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain.

As we read through these accounts it's sad to see a nation, blessed by the Lord, give up on the commandments of God because it's too hard to be God's people. These were people who had seen God defeat their enemies hundreds of times. They're parents and grandparents had watched the Red Sea part before them and they had watched Jericho crumble before them, yet the moment God gives them a task they complain that it was too hard. Now granted fear is a hard thing to overcome and these people faced giants but if we reflect on how we turn away from God we seem even more foolish then them. They were up against great odds in battle and doubted God, we doubt God the moment someone mocks us for our beliefs. Many Christians in today's world have strayed away from the teachings of the Bible. Believing it to instead be easier to support things such as gay marriage or evolution so that they don't feel as threatened. Many more can't even defend their beliefs or don't have much of a reason if any to call themselves Christians. God makes it very clear about his desires for us are the ones we should long for. He provides us with everything we need all we have to do is be willing to listen and obey. The Israelites were taught many lessons and endured many hardships for straying away from God, as his children I hope we can learn from our mistakes before it's too late. 

Feel free to ask some questions about this chapter because I didn't have time to write any this time.