Judges 2:6 - 3:5: On the Canaanites in our road

Joshua has led the Isrealites to enter the Canaan and drive away the inhabitants there. The Lord has promised different tribes to take possesions of the land each to his own inheritance. So the 12 tribes of Isrealites fights the remaining Cannaites in the promised land. Some tribe did succeed in driving out the Cannaites, some didn't. After the death of Joshua and his whole generation, the Isrealites has fallen into a vicous cycle. They disobey Jehovah God and worship the other idols; They had fallen to their enemies and were in great distress; They repented and seeked for the help of the Lord. The Lord has listened and has raised up judges to deliever the Isrealites from their enemy; After that, they turn away from the Lord again. The cycles keep on going and going, in downward spiral.

So the Lord has allowed their enemy to stay in their land and didn't drive it out. He want to test the Israelites whether they would obey the Lord's commnad which had given their forefathers through Moses (Judge 3:4)

God has promised many goods in our life, and has left us with His spiritual inheritance that allow us to take possession. Yet the Lord didn't make the road straight and didn't drive out the Canaanites on the road. After inheriting their land, the Israelites forgot God. So are we. That's why He has put obstacles in our life journey to test whether we are willing to obey His command and follow His way.

The old testament story is a sad story, for human are intrinsically disobedient and esay to forget God. That's why God's love is so precious, because Jesus has died for our disobedience even though we don't deserve it, and He has broken the vicous cycle in the our life. That's the meaning of Easter.

'I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful' (John 15:1-2)