Occupy The Land

But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day. [Joshua 15.63]

People are, after all, just people. Right?

The Bible teaches clearly that God will not force anyone to believe in Him.

Even though God's promises were clear that Israel would drive out their opponents and occupy the Land of Canaan (the Promised Land), that did not assure Israel's reciprocal faith. What we see in today's OYCB reading is that Judah, Manasseh, and Ephraim all failed to fully dispel the land's occupants.

How many promises has God made to me that I have failed to "faith" into reality? I can't really consider myself superior to Israel because I too have failed to "fully occupy the land."

The only silver lining I can see in Israel's failed conquests is that God remained faithful to them when they did not remain faithful to God. This is some encouragement to me (us) that God, Who remains the same and does not change, is patient and faithful.

However, just because God is faithful, we have no license to be content in powerlessness. Yes, God loves us if we are weak in faith, but it is impossible to please Him in that condition!

We have only one goal in life: to please God. And, that goal is only met in and by faith.

Faithlessness is indeed our "default" setting due to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Our lives should however, be poured out in continual offering of faith to Him - works of faith - believing not what we see, but what God says - calling things that are not, as though they were. Jesus said it like this:

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” [Luke 4.18-19]

The "Redeemed" setting, as Jesus contrasted above, is faithful (full of faith) in every circumstance and regard. And, Jesus commissioned us likewise:

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” [John 20.21]

Yes, Israel demonstrated faithlessness. But Israel is NOT our example, Jesus is!

Father, help us to seek every opportunity to please You with our faith.