“Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.” (Josh. 17:13)
God had given the Children of Israel a Promised Land. It was theirs for the taking, but they failed to completely possess the land like God told them to. What happened? They were keeping company with the Canaanites when God said they were to drive them out of the land.
Notice the word “Yet.” They knew what God had said, “YET” they disobeyed anyway. The Canaanites were demon-worshipers and God said they were to be utterly driven out. The Canaanites represent the power of Satan that can keep us from living in complete victory. Do you know what God’s plan for Manasseh was? It was complete victory. Do you know what God wants you to have? Complete victory.
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57)
The trouble was instead of driving them out, they made friends with them! You’re always going to be in trouble if you keep company with Canaanites! Here’s why they had a problem with their possession:
FIRST—They FAVORED some Canaanites.
(v.13) says, “they put the Canaanites to tribute…” The word “tribute” refers to slave labor. The Israelites said, “There’s no reason to get rid of these particular Canaanites. Rather than driving them out, we’ll make slaves out of them. We’ll be better off with them in the land.” So, those were the Canaanites they favored.
Do you have a Canaanite that you are showing favor to? Is there some sin or habit in your life that you think you’re better off keeping around? Maybe there are some Canaanite friends that God has told you to get rid of, yet you are still hanging around them.
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (Prov. 13:20)
SECOND—They FEARED some Canaanites.
In (v.16) they say, “all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron…” There were some Canaanites they didn’t think they could drive out of the land because they had “chariots of iron.” The Israelites had a problem with their possession because some Canaanites they favored, and some Canaanites they feared. Some sins they felt they could handle, and other sins they thought that they could not overcome at all.
Is that the way you are? Are there certain things in your life that you say, “I can handle that,” and so you don’t get rid of them. But there are other things in your life that you say, “I can’t handle that,” and so you don’t get rid of that either?
Maybe there are certain problems or sins in your life that are like “chariots of iron.” The reason that many people are not living a life of victory that God wants for them—is because of either sins they FAVOR or sins they FEAR.
Don’t keep company with the Canaanites. Don’t get too friendly with sin in your life. Drive it out, today, and walk in victory!