Judges 1 – Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites:
This chapter was about Israel battling against the Canaanites so they can claim the land that the Lord promised them. Yet the Israelites failed to completely remove all of the Canaanites and the chapter explains that they did not drive them out, but instead turned them into slaves, and lived alongside the Canaanites. If it is one thing I know about God, is if He tells you to do something and gives a promise if you do it… He is always true with His promise, so it is wise to follow His commandments. Because the Israelites didn’t follow God’s commandment to completely drive out the Canaanites, they were going to be a nuisance to the them.
Let’s bring this a bit closer to home. God promised us the gift of salvation, a great new life and an awesome relationship with Him, but the requirement was to “put off [our] old self” (Ephesians 4:22). For many of us, including myself, we are charged to drive out all the bad areas of our lives (like the Israelites driving out the Canaanites) to put off our old self and put on the new…but the problem is we don’t. Without driving out the old habituous ways, they will only be a thorn in our side, and a barrier to God’s plan for us. So I was challenged to really look deep into my heart and identify the bad areas of my life so that I can calim God’s promises for my life! I’m already seeing my old self being stripped away and witnessing the wonderful things He has in store for me! Isn’t it time you take a look into your heart and fight off the remaining Cannanites in your life?