I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Judges 1. “But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land. When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely. Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live there among them. Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, so these Canaanites lived among them, but Zebulun did subject them to forced labor. Nor did Asher drive out those living in Akko or Sidon or Ahlab or Akzib or Helbah or Aphek or Rehob. The Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land because they did not drive them out. Neither did Naphtali drive out those living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath; but the Naphtalites too lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, and those living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became forced laborers for them. The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain. And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, but when the power of the tribes of Joseph increased, they too were pressed into forced labor. The boundary of the Amorites was from Scorpion Pass to Sela and beyond” (Verses 27-36). This for me is the beginning of the end. Almost every verse contains these words, “they were unable to drive out…” “Neither was… able to completely drive out…” “To this day… still dwells among them.” Why are these verses important? God’s command: COMPLETELY wipe them out. Does that sound like, forced labor to you? Don’t grow weary in well doing. Don’t get tired of doing what God has called us to do. Because then we allow things that need to be exterminated to dwell with us and become apart of our lives. When we allow things into our world other then what God wants no matter how careful we are we are still interacting, still being  influenced. Don’t be blinded, don’t believe that the things that we hold on to after God has said let go isn’t affecting us. Flash forward because Israel did not completely accomplish what God said, they are now surrounded by enemies on every side. Today we need to honestly take a look at our lives and ask this question: “What surrounds us?” Then make a choice to get rid of what shouldn’t be there.