Israel Fails (April 1)

The Lord was with the men of Judah.  They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had iron charriots.

The Benjamites, however, failed to dislodge the Jebusites...

But Manassah did not drive out the people...

When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but never drove them out completely.

Neither did Zebulun...

Nor did Asher...

Neither did Napthali...

Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you;  they will be thorns in your sides and thiergods will be a snare to you.

After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he ahad done for Israel.

The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, a
Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.  They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

silver to the Lord for my son to make a carved image and a cast idol...Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit...

Now I know that the Lord will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest!

                           From Judges 1-3 & 17 NIV

This is almost painful reading!  Having the Lord with you, but failing to drive out inhabitants because of iron charriots.  Where is faith, service, perseverence.  These Israelites are serving the Lord who brought them out of Egypt against Pharaoh's army and might.  Iron Charriots?  Balderdash!

If it were truly iron charriots; then when Israel grew strong, driving out the inhabitants would be possible.  But No!  Those inhabitants did the forced labor, the jobs the Israelites thought were below them.  Look at where that pride, arrogance, and self will took the nation; to serving other gods. 

Israel fails in another way.  The nation failed to teach the children about the Lord.  The Lord was not talked about when they went in and out, when they arose in the morning and when they retired at night.  One generation...Poof...Gone!  They knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.

Serving other gods, ouch!  Here Micah makes an idol and recruits a Levite to be a preist.  This too is against God's command, for only Benjamites were to be preists.  When we do as we see fit, what we see as fit often does not fit with God's plan.  Dispite this misfit, we perceive that good will accrue. 

Don't you just want to AAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!

What "iron charriots" are in your life that are "preventing" you from serving God? 

Will you pray that your eyes are open and that the Spirit gives you the strength and courage to deal with those charriots?

In Christ


David P