Judges 1:19 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 chariots fitted with iron.
Commentary on this verse states: “…the imperfection of their faith lay in this, as it may do in yours…that they believed one promise of God and did not believe another.“ Ouch. My toes have definitely been stepped on. God had given the entire Promised Land to the Israelites, but He required them to do the hard work of routing out the inhabitants, and yet, they are stopped here by chariots fitted with iron?!? Iron chariots are no match for the Creator of the universe.
Judges 1:20 As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove from it the three sons of Anak.
And yet, even as I want to castigate the Israelites for their willful disobedience, I see the glaring areas in my own life, times when the going got tough, when I was faced with chariots fitted with iron and forgot that the power of the Almighty, the same power that rose Jesus from the grave, lives within me. Jesus, Help me!
Judges 1:22 The Benjamites, however, did not drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You are with us, that You are fighting for us, but that You still require us to put in effort and hard work. Help us not to be afraid, no matter what we are facing, because we know You are with us. Give us strength. Amen.
Judges 1:28 When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely.
Have a blessed day.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.