Friday, November 17, 2006
Iron Chariots - Judges 1-3
After Joshua died the children of Israel remained faithful to God for as long as the elders that came out of Egypt with Joshua lived (Judges 2:7-10). During this time the Israelites won victory after victory in the power of the Lord. Jericho fell down with a shout (Joshua 1:20, 21), nation after nation was conquered thru the power of the Lord. But when Joshua died there was still a lot of land left to conquer.
As the book of Judges opens we see that the Israelites asked God "Who shall go up for us agains the Canaanites first, to fight against them?" and God siad, "Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand." . . . "And Judah went up; and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Prizzites into their hand." (Judges 1:1, 2, 4). And the chapter continues with victory after victory, Bezek, Jerusalem, Hebron, Debit, Zephath, Gaza, Ekron, all were defeated because God was on their side and they asked God to lead them into the fight.
The children of Joseph went into their battles "and the Lord was with them." The land was theirs for the taking, just as God had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But then something went terribly wrong.
Beginning in verse 27 of Judges 1 there starts a litany of failure. Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali and Dan all failed to drive out the inhabitants of the land. Sometimes God's people cowered in fear as did the children of Dan in the mountains when the Amorites wouldn't let them come down into the valley (vs. 34); sometimes it was Judah afraid of the inhabitants of their valley because of the iron chariots (vs 19); sometimes the Israelites conquered people but let them live among them as vassals who paid tribute for the privilege of living among them. But how could this happen? Wasn't the God who threw down the walls of Jericho; the God who buried an Egyptian army in the sea; the God who made the sun stand still; wasn't that God able to conquer iron chariots?
The story of Israel is my story, and your story. It is the story of God's people everywhere and in every age of this world. God's covenant with His people was first given in Eden after Adam and Eve sinned. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel (Genesis 3:15)." Wonderful promise, the seed of the woman, Jesus, would forever defeat that old serpent, the devil. God would give the victory, and God does give the victory to anyone who wants it!
Then, the Lord took away the fig leaves that Adam and Eve had put together to hide their nakedness (Genesis 3:7) and clothed them with the skin of the lamb (vs 21). Here, right from the beginning God was showing Adam and Eve that their works (the fig leaves) couldn't cover their nakedness, only the death of the Lamb could cover them. Here is the covenant in words (Genesis 3:15) and in symbol, replacing the fig leaves with the lamb's skin. (See also Revelation 3:18; Zechariah 3:1-4; Isaiah 61:10; Matthew 22; etc).
The Lord renewed the covenant with Abraham, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:2, 3)." And later, "Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the River Euphrates (Genesis 15:18)."
God had promised the Israelites that HE would give them the land; HE would fight their battles. But Israel never conquered Canaan as God had promised they would. Why? A look back at Exodus 23:27-33 tell us why. "I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand: and thou shalt drive them out before thee. Thou shalt make no cevenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, lest the make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee."
Just as Israel received great promises and had a covenant with God, so today those who claim to be His people have made a covenant with Him. God's covenant with His people was that He would fight their enemies, He would provide land for them, and He would provide a Savior. The old covenant looks forward to the Lamb of God, the new covenant looks back at the Lamb of God; and both covenants behold a Savior. And yet, Israel spent most of its existence forgetting the God who saves, who redeems, who fights the battle and wins. What a sad example of a people losing when they had everything to win!
But as I look at my life I see that I am like the Israelites in so many ways. God has said He would give me victory over all the sins in my life ("Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect" Matthew 5:48; if God calls us to perfection that means He will provide the victory over everything that makes my life imperfect.); God has said He has a home prepared for me ("For, behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind" Isaiah 65:17); God provided a Savior who can save me FROM my sins (Matthew 1:21). He doesn't save me IN my sins, He saves me FROM my sins. He calls me to repent (turn around), He calls me to be born again (brand new, without sin), He calls me to abide in Him and let Him give me victory and a new life. And yet, like the Israelites I don't finish the fight.
Why did Israel fail to secure the land, and what lessons does that hold for me and for God's people in 2006?
1) Israel disobeyed God by making treaties with the Canaanites (Judges 2:2): God had specifically told them that they were not, under any circumstances to make treaties with any of the nations that lived in Canaan, and yet, the generation after the one taught by Joshua made covenants with the people of the land.
How do I make treaties with the people of the land? Because of my constant exposure to sin, it no longer seems so bad and I find myself constantly compromising, making "treaties" with the enemy. When I watch or read things that violate the "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virute, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). And let's face it, whatsoever things I watch on TV or at the movies are 99% of the time not true, just, pure, lovely or of good report.
What about the things I wear, eat, talk about, participate in. Do they all meet God's high standard or am I making a treaty with God's mortal enemy who only wants to kill me?
I'm sure that the Israelites justified letting the Canaanites live in the land when they put them to tribute. Maybe they thought, "We are strong and we would never compromise our faith, we can let them live." Or how about that oldie but goodie, "I'll be doing a good thing becuase the money we make from the tribute can go to witnessing to the pagans, or building God's house, or helping the poor."
Unfortunately, the Israelites disobeyed God's direct commands and let the Canaanites live among them. But how can I be judgmental of the Israelites when I do the same thing?
2) Israel disobeyed God by not overthrowing the idols, they started worshiping the false gods (Judges 2:11-13) and they forsook God: how could they worship Baal and Ashtaroth and the other gods when they had the God of heaven on their side, their redeemer who had delivered them from the bondage of Egypt?
How do I forsake the God who saved me, who fights my battles? Whenever I put anything ahead of God I am creating my own false idols. Is it work when God has called me apart to spend a day with Him? Do I put my selfish desire to sleep or do my own thing ahead of time spent with God? Do I let the cares and distractions of this world crowd Him out? Whenever I do that I'm bowing down to false gods and forsaking the Lord God of my fathers who has delivered me.
3) God was testing Israel by not driving out the nations quickly to see if they would obey Him and remain faithful (Judges 2:3): how could they not stay faithful for a little while after they had seen His might and His power. How could they fail the test?
And yet, how often do I fail the test if God doesn't deliver me immediately. He could be testing me on money, He could be testing me with a job, with problems in my marriage, with my children, with my church family, or with any number of other tests, small and large. Do I remain faithful, or do I give up my faith? "He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much. . . "(Luke 16:10). Am I faithful in the little tests God allows to come my way? He allows trials and temptations to come but He has promised: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13). Do I believe Him or do I bail in the face of trouble?
4) God didn't drive the nations out quickly because He didn't want the land to get desolate and wild animals take over (Exodus 23:29, 30): but when Israel didn't win quickly they got discouraged and gave up. they forgot what God had said He'd do and how He'd do it.
So many times I'm impatient, I want to be delivered from all my bad habits and sinful desires immediately. And God does give quick victories over many things. As I look back over my life I can think of many things that He has instantly removed from my life and victory has been good. But there are also many other things that take time and work. Sometimes I get impatient and want it all NOW. I also am not realy patient with other people in their struggles. Maybe they're struggling with something I gave up instantly or that has never been a temptation for me and I feel superior because I overcame, or never struggled with THAT sin and look at that poor schlub! And when there is something I have to struggle with I forget that God has promised victory and strength to overcome. I forget that "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." (Psalms 1:1-3).
A healthy tree grows steadily and always up, but never does it do all its growing at one time. It bears fruit "in his season" so I will bear fruit in my season, and my husband will bear fruit in his season, and my son will bear fruit in his season, etc. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). I can rest assured that in His time God will make all things good in my life. I just have to trust Him.
5) They didn't ask God for directions. When they began the battles the people asked God who should go first, and God told them. After that, there is no record of asking God for His plan for victory.
How often do I start my day without asking the God be in control? Can I really be so arrogant as to think that I don't need His guidance? "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21). What a pleasure it is to have the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God giving me directions. He can see the future, I can't even see into the next 5 minutes. I can make all the plans I want, but He knows what lies ahead and can keep me from stumbling. One of my favorite texts is Jude 24, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."
6) Last, but certainly not least, the iron chariots. The Israelites saw that the valley people were stronger and scarier. They had bigger weapons and from man's standpoint they were unbeatable; so Israel didn't try. They gave up!
My mortal enemy, that old serpent the deveil has great and scary weapons. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12). From a human standpoint he is unbeatable. And yet, God has already won the battle. On the cross Jesus cried, "It is finished" and won the battle. It doesn't matter what weapons the devil uses against me, I can win in the power of God. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10, 11).
Iron chariots. I can be like the Israelites and give up the battle. But praise God I don't have to, I can win in HIS power and thru HIS might.
After Joshua died the children of Israel remained faithful to God for as long as the elders that came out of Egypt with Joshua lived (Judges 2:7-10). During this time the Israelites won victory after victory in the power of the Lord. Jericho fell down with a shout (Joshua 1:20, 21), nation after nation was conquered thru the power of the Lord. But when Joshua died there was still a lot of land left to conquer.
As the book of Judges opens we see that the Israelites asked God "Who shall go up for us agains the Canaanites first, to fight against them?" and God siad, "Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand." . . . "And Judah went up; and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Prizzites into their hand." (Judges 1:1, 2, 4). And the chapter continues with victory after victory, Bezek, Jerusalem, Hebron, Debit, Zephath, Gaza, Ekron, all were defeated because God was on their side and they asked God to lead them into the fight.
The children of Joseph went into their battles "and the Lord was with them." The land was theirs for the taking, just as God had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But then something went terribly wrong.
Beginning in verse 27 of Judges 1 there starts a litany of failure. Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali and Dan all failed to drive out the inhabitants of the land. Sometimes God's people cowered in fear as did the children of Dan in the mountains when the Amorites wouldn't let them come down into the valley (vs. 34); sometimes it was Judah afraid of the inhabitants of their valley because of the iron chariots (vs 19); sometimes the Israelites conquered people but let them live among them as vassals who paid tribute for the privilege of living among them. But how could this happen? Wasn't the God who threw down the walls of Jericho; the God who buried an Egyptian army in the sea; the God who made the sun stand still; wasn't that God able to conquer iron chariots?
The story of Israel is my story, and your story. It is the story of God's people everywhere and in every age of this world. God's covenant with His people was first given in Eden after Adam and Eve sinned. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel (Genesis 3:15)." Wonderful promise, the seed of the woman, Jesus, would forever defeat that old serpent, the devil. God would give the victory, and God does give the victory to anyone who wants it!
Then, the Lord took away the fig leaves that Adam and Eve had put together to hide their nakedness (Genesis 3:7) and clothed them with the skin of the lamb (vs 21). Here, right from the beginning God was showing Adam and Eve that their works (the fig leaves) couldn't cover their nakedness, only the death of the Lamb could cover them. Here is the covenant in words (Genesis 3:15) and in symbol, replacing the fig leaves with the lamb's skin. (See also Revelation 3:18; Zechariah 3:1-4; Isaiah 61:10; Matthew 22; etc).
The Lord renewed the covenant with Abraham, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:2, 3)." And later, "Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the River Euphrates (Genesis 15:18)."
God had promised the Israelites that HE would give them the land; HE would fight their battles. But Israel never conquered Canaan as God had promised they would. Why? A look back at Exodus 23:27-33 tell us why. "I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand: and thou shalt drive them out before thee. Thou shalt make no cevenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, lest the make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee."
Just as Israel received great promises and had a covenant with God, so today those who claim to be His people have made a covenant with Him. God's covenant with His people was that He would fight their enemies, He would provide land for them, and He would provide a Savior. The old covenant looks forward to the Lamb of God, the new covenant looks back at the Lamb of God; and both covenants behold a Savior. And yet, Israel spent most of its existence forgetting the God who saves, who redeems, who fights the battle and wins. What a sad example of a people losing when they had everything to win!
But as I look at my life I see that I am like the Israelites in so many ways. God has said He would give me victory over all the sins in my life ("Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect" Matthew 5:48; if God calls us to perfection that means He will provide the victory over everything that makes my life imperfect.); God has said He has a home prepared for me ("For, behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind" Isaiah 65:17); God provided a Savior who can save me FROM my sins (Matthew 1:21). He doesn't save me IN my sins, He saves me FROM my sins. He calls me to repent (turn around), He calls me to be born again (brand new, without sin), He calls me to abide in Him and let Him give me victory and a new life. And yet, like the Israelites I don't finish the fight.
Why did Israel fail to secure the land, and what lessons does that hold for me and for God's people in 2006?
1) Israel disobeyed God by making treaties with the Canaanites (Judges 2:2): God had specifically told them that they were not, under any circumstances to make treaties with any of the nations that lived in Canaan, and yet, the generation after the one taught by Joshua made covenants with the people of the land.
How do I make treaties with the people of the land? Because of my constant exposure to sin, it no longer seems so bad and I find myself constantly compromising, making "treaties" with the enemy. When I watch or read things that violate the "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virute, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). And let's face it, whatsoever things I watch on TV or at the movies are 99% of the time not true, just, pure, lovely or of good report.
What about the things I wear, eat, talk about, participate in. Do they all meet God's high standard or am I making a treaty with God's mortal enemy who only wants to kill me?
I'm sure that the Israelites justified letting the Canaanites live in the land when they put them to tribute. Maybe they thought, "We are strong and we would never compromise our faith, we can let them live." Or how about that oldie but goodie, "I'll be doing a good thing becuase the money we make from the tribute can go to witnessing to the pagans, or building God's house, or helping the poor."
Unfortunately, the Israelites disobeyed God's direct commands and let the Canaanites live among them. But how can I be judgmental of the Israelites when I do the same thing?
2) Israel disobeyed God by not overthrowing the idols, they started worshiping the false gods (Judges 2:11-13) and they forsook God: how could they worship Baal and Ashtaroth and the other gods when they had the God of heaven on their side, their redeemer who had delivered them from the bondage of Egypt?
How do I forsake the God who saved me, who fights my battles? Whenever I put anything ahead of God I am creating my own false idols. Is it work when God has called me apart to spend a day with Him? Do I put my selfish desire to sleep or do my own thing ahead of time spent with God? Do I let the cares and distractions of this world crowd Him out? Whenever I do that I'm bowing down to false gods and forsaking the Lord God of my fathers who has delivered me.
3) God was testing Israel by not driving out the nations quickly to see if they would obey Him and remain faithful (Judges 2:3): how could they not stay faithful for a little while after they had seen His might and His power. How could they fail the test?
And yet, how often do I fail the test if God doesn't deliver me immediately. He could be testing me on money, He could be testing me with a job, with problems in my marriage, with my children, with my church family, or with any number of other tests, small and large. Do I remain faithful, or do I give up my faith? "He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much. . . "(Luke 16:10). Am I faithful in the little tests God allows to come my way? He allows trials and temptations to come but He has promised: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13). Do I believe Him or do I bail in the face of trouble?
4) God didn't drive the nations out quickly because He didn't want the land to get desolate and wild animals take over (Exodus 23:29, 30): but when Israel didn't win quickly they got discouraged and gave up. they forgot what God had said He'd do and how He'd do it.
So many times I'm impatient, I want to be delivered from all my bad habits and sinful desires immediately. And God does give quick victories over many things. As I look back over my life I can think of many things that He has instantly removed from my life and victory has been good. But there are also many other things that take time and work. Sometimes I get impatient and want it all NOW. I also am not realy patient with other people in their struggles. Maybe they're struggling with something I gave up instantly or that has never been a temptation for me and I feel superior because I overcame, or never struggled with THAT sin and look at that poor schlub! And when there is something I have to struggle with I forget that God has promised victory and strength to overcome. I forget that "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." (Psalms 1:1-3).
A healthy tree grows steadily and always up, but never does it do all its growing at one time. It bears fruit "in his season" so I will bear fruit in my season, and my husband will bear fruit in his season, and my son will bear fruit in his season, etc. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). I can rest assured that in His time God will make all things good in my life. I just have to trust Him.
5) They didn't ask God for directions. When they began the battles the people asked God who should go first, and God told them. After that, there is no record of asking God for His plan for victory.
How often do I start my day without asking the God be in control? Can I really be so arrogant as to think that I don't need His guidance? "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21). What a pleasure it is to have the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God giving me directions. He can see the future, I can't even see into the next 5 minutes. I can make all the plans I want, but He knows what lies ahead and can keep me from stumbling. One of my favorite texts is Jude 24, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."
6) Last, but certainly not least, the iron chariots. The Israelites saw that the valley people were stronger and scarier. They had bigger weapons and from man's standpoint they were unbeatable; so Israel didn't try. They gave up!
My mortal enemy, that old serpent the deveil has great and scary weapons. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12). From a human standpoint he is unbeatable. And yet, God has already won the battle. On the cross Jesus cried, "It is finished" and won the battle. It doesn't matter what weapons the devil uses against me, I can win in the power of God. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10, 11).
Iron chariots. I can be like the Israelites and give up the battle. But praise God I don't have to, I can win in HIS power and thru HIS might.
