UNDERSTANDING GOD'S WAY OF DOING THINGS
1 NOW THESE ARE THE NATIONS WHICH THE LORD LEFT, THAT HE MIGHT TEST ISRAEL BY THEM, THAT IS, ALL WHO HAD NOT KNOWN ANY OF THE WARS IN CANAAN
2 (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel MIGHT BE TAUGHT TO KNOW WAR, at least those who had not formerly known it),
3 namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
4 AND THEY WERE LEFT, THAT HE MIGHT TEST ISRAEL BY THEM, TO KNOW WHETHER THEY WOULD OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
Judges 3:1-4 (NKJV)
With the above passage of the Bible, we could understand that there are some things that would be allowed or permitted in a believer's life, by God, which are done mainly that such a believer might be tested through those things.
A number of inhabitants of Canaan land were not allowed to be completely driven out by Joshua and the generation of the Israelites who were raised in the wilderness (Joshua 3:3).
This decision of God, not to allow the generation of Joshua to drive out those remnant heathen nations that were left in the Canaan land, had two significant or important reasons:
a. Those heathen nations were not allowed to be completely driven out because God wanted to use them to teach and train the new generation of the Israelites in order to know war—those who had not formerly known it (Joshua 3:2).
b. God also did that in order to use them as a test to proof the hearts of the new generation of the Israelites; God wanted to know whether they would be obedient to Him, His Word, commandments, or not (Joshua 3:4).
Tests are common and usual things which God uses in His relationship with every average believer, in shaping them for the glorious assignment He does have for them.
God is so much particular about obedience and faithfulness; He wanted whoever is relating with Him to always obey Him to the core or the letter. It is through this means or method of testing that God gets to know and proof, or substantiate and verify, the heart or motive of whoever is relating with Him.
I. As those heathen nations were allowed to remain in the Canaan land allotted to the Israelites, to test them; a believer could also be allowed by God to face challenges in order to be tested and be built up in his or her spiritual muscle or strength, for the preparation of whatever assignment He, God, has for such.
II. A believer could also be allowed to be tested about obedience and faithfulness. God would want to know if such a believer would still be obedient to Him and be faithful in serving Him, being loyal to Him, after he or she might have been blessed or lifted.
All God wanted is obedience and faithfulness; He would not want His glory or honour to be given or attributed to another person or thing—His glory would He not share with any person or thing or graven image (Isaiah 42:8).
The Israelites unfortunately failed the test because they eventually turned away from serving God after the death of Joshua and his generation—they could not continue serving God, they turned into idolatry (Judges 2:10-13; 3:7,8).
The question before you today as a believer in Christ Jesus is, What would you become If God did grant the desires of your heart and be made great and contented?
The fulfillment of God's promises to the Israelites, making them to possess the land and vineyards which they did not labour for; that which eventually made them complacent and turned away to serve other gods, had a negative consequence on them (Deuteronomy 32:15-18; Judges 2:11-13).
Would you not do the same also, forsake God, after you might have been made comfortable by Him?
11 THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. IF WE DENY HIM, HE ALSO WILL DENY US.
13 IF WE ARE FAITHLESS, HE REMAINS FAITHFUL; HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF."
2 Timothy 2:11-13 (NKJV)
It is my prayer that you would not be a disappointment to God and His Kingdom on earth in Jesus name.
Peace!