When Israel was strong II

28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not completely drive them out.

Judges 1:28 (NKJV)

When God gives us a territory to inherit, He expects us to bring forth His rule and Kingdom in that territory. This is man’s ordination since the beginning. Therefore, it is not just about receiving what was promised, but also about bringing the will of God into what was promised.

This was not the case of the Israelites.Prior to their entering the land, God had told them in Exodus 23:29-32, Numbers 33:51-53 that they must drive out the inhabitants of the land and their idols. Instead, what did they do – they put them under tribute. 

The plan of God was to destroy little by little all the inhabitants of the land until Israel took over the territory completely, and this was why He made them strong. But what did they do with that strength – they used it to collect tributes. 

We can apply this in many areas of our lives. For example, when we were saved, one of the expectations of God is that we drive out everything in us that does not align with His Kingdom – every idol, habit, spirit, addiction, behaviour, etc that opposes His Kingdom. He doesn’t expect it to happen once, but little by little. But in the long run, we have seen believers use their sinful way of life and things that do not align with God to gratify their own desires, even when God expects that they are dealt with. We will not be perfect and complete in one day, but the goal is to strive towards perfection, and not make a lifestyle of the things we are supposed to destroy.

In this generation, many have even come to the point where they accept their life of sin as part of them. You hear things like, “That is how I am” or “No one is perfect” or “Take me as I am”. The problem isn’t with the statements but with the motive behind these statements, which is to remain in that state with no desire to get better or grow or improve. 

The desire of God is that our life is in progression until we become like Christ. Therefore, we must consistently deal with every foreigner inside of us, and not collect tributes from them. Hebrews 12:28-29 says; “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire.”

PRAYER

Father, I thank you for saving me and bringing me to the knowledge of your truth. I know that I have not met your expectations over my life. Have mercy on me for all the times I have accepted in my life the things you expect me to drive out. Help me to serve you acceptably with reverence and godly fear. That your grace over me will not be in vain.