Driving out

Nevertheless the children of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maachathites, but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day. - Joshua 13:13
As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day. - Joshua 15:63
And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers. - Joshua 16:10
Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.  And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out. - Joshua 17:12-13

Here lately, my main focus in reading has been in the book of Joshua.  I just finished up with chapter 17 today and noticed some interesting features.  Maybe you can spot them, too..

In each of these four Scriptures, Israel didn't or wasn't able to drive out the enemies that possessed their land.  Immediately after reading these in the past couple of days, I've wondered why.  Why were the children of Israel not able to fully take what God had given them?  After all, He was with Joshua as He was with Moses (Joshua 1) and every where Joshua went, Israel was able to conquer (Joshua 6, 8, 10, 11).  God even promised the children of Israel in the beginning of Joshua chapter 13 that He would drive them out.  This is the land that yet remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all that of the Geshurites.. all the land of the Canaanites.. them I will drive out from before the children of Israel. - 13:2, 4, 6b.  Yet, they did not fully take the land God had promised their fathers.

Why?

Was God not true to His word?  Was He not strong enough to help Israel?  Was He too weak to do it?  Did He lie to His sons and daughters?  Did He fail to hold up His end of the promise?

Simply enough, the nation of Israel was satisfied with what they had, where they were at.  They were content in complacency.  They were content in compromising.  They were content in not having all that God said that they could have.  So what can be said about it?  He gave them instruction and they rejected it.  He was incredibly clear about what He said, too.  Do this, do this, do this, don't do that, and what'd Israel do?  The exact opposite.  Notice, even with that, what happened in the Scriptures above.  Israel did not drive out their enemy, then they could not drive out their enemy.  Intriguing, right?  It's like in Joshua 7 with Achan.  Israel couldn't conquer Ai because of sin in the camp.

Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them.  For they have ever taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived, and they have also put it among their own stuff.  Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction.  Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. - Joshua 8:12-13

Sin keeps not only God's blessing from you, but it also allows your enemy to overtake you.  Sin, by the way, is complacency.  Don't let complacency rule your life because it only leads to sin.  God's called you to greater things!

Just like God told Cain before He killed Abel, If you do well, will you not be accepted?  But if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.  It's desire is for you, but you should rule over it. - Genesis 4:7.  Like Paul said in Romans 6:14, Sin shall have no more dominion over you: for you are under the law, but under grace.

You're more than a conqueror.  Be one today!  You've got the authority to drive out your enemies.  Do it today!