Keep Sharp!

Judges 3: 1, 2 Now these are the nations which the Lord left…that the Children of Israel might be taught to know war

God is, well…, mysterious. So often we don’t know what He is doing or why He is doing it. Take this morning’s text for example. God had brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. He had told them to fight against the nations in Canaan and to drive them out and take possession of the land. At first the Israelites did well defeating large powerful armies and capturing the Promised Land, but they didn’t follow those instructions fully. In some cases they were lazy and they were scared of their enemies. They did not have enough faith in God. God could have made it easier for them but He did not. Why not? This text tells us of one reason that He didn’t. He wanted them to know war.

How about that, from a God who believes in peace? But it is true. God allowed some of their enemies to be around to give them trouble from time to time that they could remember how to fight. It was important that they did not forget. First of all, there is a constant war going on between good and evil and those who stop fighting will become Satan’s prisoners of war and will be lost. Knowing an enemy is around will keep us sharp, alert and ready to resist evil. Israel needed to remember that they were at war spiritually.

The second thing is that these enemies were often greater in number and had powerful weapons. Surrounded by so many enemies Israel would not be able to survive without God’s protection and care. This kept them close to God and depending on Him. Thirdly, they would remember that everything they had came to them because God protected and defended them. They shouldn’t get too complacent with their possessions, or too proud and independent because the enemies were always waiting to reclaim their possessions.

Have you wondered sometimes why we have problems even when we serve God? Do you pray that He will take away some problems and they are still there. Maybe God has left them there to remind you that Satan, that powerful enemy is still around and you must be careful. Maybe He wants you to keep relying on Him because the challenges are too great. Maybe He wants to remind you that you are not yet home and that everyone and everything around you is not good. Maybe He wants to keep you sharp.

Dear Lord, thank you for the problems that you have not taken away, the ones you left to keep me fighting the good fight of faith and always relying on you, in Jesus’ name, amen.