The Things I Have Left Undone

Synopsis     Judges 1:19-31     6/1/2018

The tribes of Judah and Simeon combined forces and were successful in expanding the conquest in the south. Benjamin settled with the Jebusites in Jerusalem.

Manasseh and Ephraim went against Bethel. They sent a spy ahead to reconnoiter the city. As had been done with Rahab at Jericho, a local man was offered refuge if he would assist Israel in gaining access to the city. The “house of Joseph” was successful in capturing the city.

However, there were many other cities where the Israelites were incapable of displacing the people who lived in the land. As a result, they began living with the nations that they could not displace.

Unfinished Conquest

The challenge was in the unfinished conquest. Numerous cities throughout the Promised Land had been captured and populated. But not all of the cities. The scripture doesn’t really say why the Israelites didn’t force the Canaanites out, only that they didn’t.

The Things I have Left Undone

It’s a reminder. The things I intended to do but didn’t finish – haven’t finished. I had a plan. I took initiative. I risked for the reward. I stepped out in faith.

But I didn’t finish.

Something came up. All sorts of things showed up. Seven children in 9 years. I stopped thinking about goals. We found a groove where we could keep everything together and we held on to that. And that became our new norm. And we forgot that we had dreams and goals. And we forget that we had a purpose and mission.

But maybe we didn’t forget. Maybe that’s too strong. Maybe we just stopped thinking about it. It slipped out of our consciousness. It slipped out of my consciousness.

But it will come back. I didn’t forget entirely. You haven’t forgotten entirely. But when it does come back, let’s pay attention.

“Oh, that today you would hear his voice, harden not your hearts as at the rebellion in the day of testing in the desert” Heb 3:7