Day 48 – Judges: Military failure

Reading: Judges 1:1 to Judges 3:6

“I did this to test Israel – to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did” That is why the Lord left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.” Judges 2:22-23 NLT

During Joshua’s reign, there were wars to conquer the nations in the Promised Land, but though there was war, it was a fight for their freedom, and they lived in God’s freedom. Free from oppression and slavery, free to worship and love Him.

A generation after Joshua’s death, the tribes compromised God’s command to drive out the inhabitants of the land. Where they were once a mighty army in the Name of the Lord, they put down their weapons and their purpose for living shifted from obedience to God’s covenant to obedience to their fleshy desires. Society has many rewards to offer those who compromise their faith: wealth, acceptance, recognition, power, and influence. Incomplete removal of evil often means disaster in the end and we should be vigilant to compromise with wickedness in our spiritual warfare journeys.

Prayer: Father, through Judges, we learn a lot about warfare. And even if we do not war with a physical sword, we war against our enemy with the sword of the Spirit. Teach us to equip ourselves with Your armour and have the discernment not to compromise Your truth. Amen.