In the book of Judges we learned how, “the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them. And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.) And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we pray you, the entrance into the city, and we will show you mercy. And when he showed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family. And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day. Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-eight of Judges, we learn what happened “when Israel was strong”, where we read,
And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute,
and did not utterly drive them out.
The verse reads, “And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, …” The writer began with the words, “and it came to pass” which means “and the following occurred and happened”, “when Israel was strong” or “at the time and moment Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob grew firm, secure, courageous, prevailing and resolute”, “that they put the Canaanites to tribute” or “that they, the people of Israel, set, put, appointed, directed, ordained and directed the Canaanites, whose name means ‘zealous or lowland’ and were the descendants of Canaan, to be forced laborers, task-workers, serfdom or tributary”. The writer shared at the time and moment “Israel” grew secure and resolute that they made the people of “Canaan” to become tributaries and laborers.
The verse continues, “… and did not utterly drive them out.” The writer added the words, “and did not utterly” which means “and in no way or manner completely” “drive them out” or “expel, seize, dispossess or disinherit them, the Canaanites”. The writer shared how the people of “Israel” did not completely expel the occupants of “Canaan”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how “Israel” did not disinherit all the people of “Canaan” from the promise land. Rather than expel them, Israel forced the “Canaanites” to serve as laborers and taxpayers. This is not what God said, and we shall learn later in the Bible that this was a huge mistake on their part. (See Numbers 33:55; Joshua 23:13; Judges 2:1-3; 3:1-4) God wants to separate us from all sin, and we are to keep from any influence that would draw us into sin. (See 2 Corinthians 6:17) God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for all our sins, and He was raised from the dead after three days so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and give us the ability to resist temptation, stay away from sin and keep ourselves distant from the influences that may draw us into sinful behaviors. (See John 3:16; Acts 1:8)
Next time we learn, “Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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