God's love is accepted and used, then discarded like a worn-out shoe. The judge passes away, but the people have not learned their lesson. Once again the whole dreary pattern repeats itself (Judges 2:19, 3:5-6). That is the incessant pattern of the book of Judges-sin, servitude, supplication, salvation, and downward spiral.

In perfect justice, the Lord declares his verdict (2:21). He will not deliver Israel from the Canaanites, but will use them to test His people (2:22; 3:1, 4) and remind Israel that she remains God-dependent. He will also use them to teach her war, to toughen her up for His ultimate purposes. It is an eloquent reminder that sin is always a serious matter for the children of God. If we do not deal decisively with sin in our lives, we will never experience the fullness of God's blessing. There can be no compromise, no peaceful co-existence with sin. If we try to go part-way in our commitment to God, we will quickly find ourselves caught in a downward spiral.

But God does not leave the second generation to wallow in their apathy. His strategy for moving them forward is spelled out in Judges 3:1-2. He allows pockets of resistance to remain. Why? God desires a group of people who know how to trust Him in battle, people who will aggressively pursue His agenda. Victory does not come from human courage or wisdom or skill; it comes from a faithful God.

Have you ever wondered why God does not take away your sinful nature? Why there are so many areas of weakness in your life, and such difficult problems and obstacles for you to overcome? Why are there so many needs around for you to fill? Are you ever perplexed by the persistence of unsolved problems in even the most biblically-faithful fellowships?

Part of the answer is found in Judges 3:2. The Lord uses those difficulties to teach us how to wage spiritual war. He wants to shake us out of our apathy and teach us to trust Him. Often it is only when the enemy has completely overrun us, and all our resources are gone, that we develop a teachable spirit. These times of failure and crisis become teaching times as the Lord shows us how to make war-how to trust in Him.

The implication of this strategy for our lives is clear: we cannot stand still in our Christian experience. If we try to stand still, we can be sure that the principalities and powers arrayed against us will not. Either we advance, or we perish.