Through the Bible Day by Day Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? RENEWING THE CONQUEST Jdg_1:1-15 The land had been given. There could be no doubt about that. In the ancient covenant which Jehovah had made with Abram, He said: “Unto thy seed have I given this land.” See Gen_15:18. It had also been conquered and divided by lot, as we learn in Jos_14:1-5. The portion of Judah is specified in Jos_15:1-63. But notwithstanding all, each tribe had to possess its own, first by the sword, and ultimately by the plow and the spade. It is not enough to be assured that “we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.” We must possess our possessions. By faith, and patience, and daily use, we must appropriate the resources which are stored up in Christ Jesus. See Oba_1:17; Eph_1:3. Let us not be content with the nether springs of ordinary experience, but let us seek the upper springs that arise hard by the throne of God! “Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, As the swift seasons roll!… Till thou at length art free, Leaving thine outgrown shell by life’s unresting sea!” And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people. FLAGGING IN THEIR GREAT TASK Jdg_1:16-36; Jdg_2:1-5 The conquest of Canaan was very partial. Israel dwelled among the ancient inhabitants of the land, much as the Normans did among the Anglo-Saxons, whom they found in England; and the mixture of the two peoples was the beginning of moral degeneracy and decline in the chosen race. Wherever there was the old-time faith in God, as in the case of Caleb, the land was cleared of the Canaanite; but where God was out, the Canaanite was in. So it is in the life of the soul. It is intended that the whole should be yielded to Christ, that no evil passion should reign, that no besetting sin should enthrall. But how often Christian people give up the fight! They say that the old Adam is too strong for them, and settle down to a joint-occupation. Let us not yield to reasoning like this! The Lion of Judah can break every chain. By faith in Him we can be more than conquerors! The Holy Spirit strives with the flesh, so that we may not do as otherwise we would. Only give Him the right of way! Sin shall not reign in your mortal body! Through the Bible Day by Day by F.B. Meyer Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
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