The Lord said “I will no longer drive out the nations which Joshua left when he died”.

“But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways. So the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice, I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died”. (Judges 2:19-21)

After the conquest of Canaan, Joshua dismissed the People and they went off to claim their allotted territories. The people worshiped God throughout the lifetime of Joshua. 

Eventually that entire generation died and was buried. Then another generation grew up that didn’t know anything of God or the work he had done for Israel.

How could they forget so quickly? 

They deserted the God of their parents and worshipped the gods of the peoples around them. Remember how God told them to destroy, or drive out, all the nations living in their promised land? Well, they failed to do so...with dire consequences. God’s anger was hot against Israel: He handed them off to plunderers who sold them cheap to enemies on all sides. They were helpless before their enemies. 

Then God, in His grace, raised up judges who saved them from their plunderers. When God raised up a judge, he would be right there with the judge as long as the judge was alive. But when the judge died, the people went right back to their old ways...even worse...stubborn as mules.

And God said, “Because these people have thrown out my covenant that I commanded their parents and haven’t listened to me, I’m not driving out one more person from the nations that Joshua left behind when he died. I’ll use them to test Israel and see whether they stay on God’s road and walk down it as their parents did.”

Which, of course, brings us to...us.

I can’t count the number of times my life has been plundered by my own sin. The joy of the Lord, the power of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of God’s Word all fail me. I weep. I plead. I promise. I get no relief. I feel abandoned...like the Israelites of old. It’s as though there is not a God in heaven.

And then I look around at the corners of my life and I’m not surprised. I have allowed false god’s and sinful temptations to accumulate in my life. Not necessarily from wicked intent, but often from laziness or compromise.

I’m reminded of what God told Haggai... “Ask the priests about the law. If someone carries holy meat in a fold of his garment and that fold touches bread, a boiled dish, wine, olive oil, or any other food, will that item become holy?’” The priests answered, “It will not.” 


We are Holy vessels...cleansed by the eternal blood of our savior. That does not mean the things we touch become holy. it means...when we touch things that are unclean, we become unclean (not “unsaved”) and God will no longer March before us to make our way straight. It tells me that if I want to remain clean I must remove the unclean things from my life. After all, the only reason I sin is because I let unclean things close enough to tempt me.

But...until I demonstrate obedience and start cleaning house, God will not clean house for me. By His grace He will surely come alongside me and point out the things that need to go. He may even send Judges, in the form of friends or spiritual elders. Just remember, when God puts something in the”to go” pile, leave it there!

And then...the joy, the power and the wisdom return.

Live boldly out there today...