Amidst all the complexities of the boundary delineations in Joshua 15-19 a remark is made and repeated similarly a number of times. It is pointed out that, in a number of areas, the Canaanites were not driven out completely and were allowed to remain with the Israelites. These remarks are highly significant because, in the book of Judges, we are going to see the results of this omission on the part of the Israelites. With God’s help, as is clearly demonstrated in the accounts up to this point in the book, the Israelites could have dislodged the people, but they didn’t. The result would be disastrous as these people would lead their new occupiers astray into idolatry and would eventually rise up against them and oppress them. It is a lesson in compromise. The command to destroy all the bad influence in the land may seem extreme but there was a reason for it and the compromise of the Israelites in this respect would see this reason played out in disastrous consequences. This same danger threatens us also. We are prone to compromise and allow various influences into our life with the idea that ‘they are not that bad’. This might come through the media, negative relationships or various pursuits that rob our focus on God’s mission. It only takes one small leak to sink a ship. Be prepared to guard your heart zealously.
Think about where you might be allowing bad influence into your life.
Read Joshua 13:13; 15:63; 16:10 and 17:12
