August 4, 2017

August 4, 2017

Judges 3:1-7     These are the nations Yahweh left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey Yahweh’s commands, which he had given their forefathers through Moses. The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their [mighty ones]. The Israelites did evil in the eyes of [Yahweh]; they forgot [Yahweh] their [Elohim] and served the Baals and the Asherahs. Yahweh left several nations and peoples to test Israel’s resolve to faithfully serve Him. They failed. Today, we live among various peoples and also face similar temptations. Most fail by adapting to the social and behavioral patterns of those around us. They are easily influenced by their surroundings instead of being the influence on others. Yahweh expects for us to remain faithful to Him at all times. He expects for us to resist the temptations that the world places on us. He wants for us to affect, change and inspire all who we meet. This is exactly what our Savior did. He was always influencing the masses instead of allowing them to bring Him down to their carnal level. Make today a day when you begin to spiritually motivate those around you. Do not allow the Canaanite attitudes and behaviors and preferences of today to influence you to turn away from Yahweh. Begin to encourage others by your example of right living to have a positive and spiritual effect on them.