There's a test coming up
I never did like tests. They make me me nervous. I mean, who does! The tests in school are to see how much you actually learned. But the tests God give us are to teach us! Will we learn from the experience?
These are the nations the Lord did not force to leave. He wanted to test the Israelites who had not fought in the wars of Canaan. (The only reason the Lord left those nations in the land was to teach the descendants of the Israelites who had not fought in those wars how to fight.) (Judges 3:1, 2 NCV)
Isn't it hard to let your children learn by experience? You want to prevent them from making mistakes. You want to do it FOR them, but if we do, they don't learn. They don't know how to handle things when they suddenly must face them without mom and dad.
When God gives us tests He is letting us learn. He is doing it for our GOOD! Not to pass or fail us, and when (not if) we fail He's there to encourage us to get back up..He lets us know we're not alone. He doesn't make us feel stupid. Hopefully we've learned and can pass the test next time!
Israel did not pass this test.
Those nations were in the land to test the Israelites—to see if they would obey the commands the Lord had given to their ancestors by Moses.
The people of Israel lived with the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. The Israelites began to marry the daughters of those people, and they allowed their daughters to marry the sons of those people. Israel also served their gods. (Judges 3:4-6 NCV)
Oh Israel.... This was teach you how to become fighting warriors...but you caved.
You did not pass this test.
You served THEIR gods!
Now the test is over and consequence begins...
The Israelites did what the Lord said was wrong. They forgot about the Lord their God and served the idols of Baal and Asherah. So the Lord was angry with Israel and allowed Cushan-Rishathaim king of Northwest Mesopotamia to rule over the Israelites for eight years. (Judges 3:7, 8 NCV)
But even when we've flunked the test and willfully disobeyed....if we cry out to God, He is there for us!
When Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord sent someone to save them. Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, saved the Israelites.
The Spirit of the Lord entered Othniel, and he became Israel’s judge. When he went to war, the Lord handed over to him Cushan-Rishathaim king of Northwest Mesopotamia. So the land was at peace for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died. (Judges 3:9-11 NCV)
Maybe it's pride,or maybe because we like sin, or because of rebelliousness or anger towards God because of what's happening in our lives, but for some reason we don't always turn TO Him, but we turn AWAY from Him when testing comes.
If we can just remember that the test is to help us, not to hurt us! If we can just remember to turn TO Him and not AWAY from Him. If we can just learn the first time
the same test won't be given to us repeatedly!
Testing will come, be assured, no one is exempt from them! God tests all His children!
The more test I have the more I see I have SO much to learn!
I have not, will not, DO NOT, pass them all by any means, but I hope I'm doing better than I was last year and the year before!
I don't want to go around in circles for 40 years learning the same test!
I hope we can all learn from the failed tests of those before us.
It wasn't only to teach them, but to teach us!
Created 3 months ago
