A Test of Love- Judges 2:20-23

"So the Lord burned with anger against Israel. He said, Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands, I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did. That is why the Lord left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all." Because of Israel's continual disobedience to God’s covenant, God allowed other Canaanite people-groups that the Israelites were supposed to completely destroy to remain in the promised land. God left these enemies in the land to test the Israelites (3:1-4), but it was Israel who failed to drive them out as God had commanded. In fact, the book of Judges illustrates the tragic results of Israel's failure. These Canaanites became both oppressors of Israel and the means that God used to "test" or discipline Israel. They were the tool of both divine retribution and amazing grace--a test of love, of sorts. God used these oppressors of Israel to a beneficial purpose--to teach His chosen people obedience. God is Almighty and His plans are Supreme, even to the extent that He can use the evil actions of people, even His chosen people, to work His good purposes. Sometimes God's discipline is a result of our own sin and disobedience and sometimes God's discipline is to instruct us. But God's discipline always leads us into a greater understanding of His will and a closer relationship with Him. "My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights" (Proverbs 3:11-12).