Judges 1:34
And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
One of the disturbing lessons we see in the Scriptures is what Israel became after Joshua’s death. They became a directionless people because they refused to go forward. Anytime you refuse to go forward by faith, your life will become directionless and filled with empty excuses. Israel had every excuse as to why they could not conquer all of the land of Canaan, but their excuses were empty words that truly showed a heart of apathy and rebellion. However, their apathetic hearts led to sin. You cannot have an apathetic heart and serve God at the same time. Apathy always leads to worldliness and acceptance of sin. When we look at what led Israel to this condition, three phrases jump out as to why they stopped conquering.
Could not is the first phrase that led to their apathetic heart. Judges 1:19 shows this phrase as it says, And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. The fact that this verse says that the LORD was with Judah shows us that it was a choice not to drive out the inhabitants of the valley rather than an inability to drive them out. To say they could not drive out these inhabitants is to say the LORD did not have the power to get past the iron chariots. The chariots of iron were an excuse they used to say they could not drive out these inhabitants. These people chose not to go forward even though the LORD was with them.
Did not is the second phrase that led to Israel’s apathetic heart. Judges 1:21 says, And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem… Because Judah said they could not, it influenced Benjamin to stop driving out the Jebusites. Because Judah stopped short, it gave Benjamin an excuse not to drive out the Jebusites. The could not led to the did not.
Would not is the third phrase that led to Israel’s apathetic heart. In verse 34, we see the children of Dan staying in the mountain because they would not go and fight the Amorites for the valley. Israel was in full comfort mode of accepting less than what God promised them. They were ok with not having all the promises God promised them. These three phrases led to Israel’s rebellious and backslidden state where they went after the gods of the land.
My friend, could not, did not, and would not must be avoided at all costs. These three phrases will keep you from seeing God’s power working in your life. To say that you cannot do something is to say that God’s power is not great enough to help you do something for God. When you accept could not in your life, you will find God’s power to stop working in your life.
However, could not always leads to did not. When you start accepting excuses is when you stop serving God. People who say they cannot end up not doing what they are supposed to do. Excuses always lead to not doing what you should be doing.
Moreover, did not always leads to would not. Would not is total rebellion against God. Rebellion against God starts with excuses. Never let excuses become a part of your life and rebellion will never take control of your life.
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