Judges 3:1-6
He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites
who had no experience in battle (Judges 3:2, NLT).

God’s word and ways will never cease to amaze me. Indeed, no one can fully say I know all about God. If we do, then the suspense and the need for faith will no longer exist. When  He permitted satan to tempt Job, He knew what the outcome would be. Yet, Job was unaware of this heavenly interlude.

In today’s Bible passage, we were told that God deliberately  left some of Israel’s enemies for reasons known to Him. Since they did not get rid of them, He used them for a purpose. To them, they could not win over them. But to God, they were to serve as His instrument to test and train them.

First, God wanted to use their enemy to train them so that they could understand warfare. This generation has never been to war or witnessed what Moses and Joshua’s generation went through. Second, God left their enemies to test their loyalty and obedience to Him in the matter of marriage and worship. They failed both.

Sometimes God may allow certain circumstances to train us and test out loyalty to Him. He uses them to train us in having faith in Him alone and not our connections or power. This is different from temptation. See James 1:13. Let us trust Him and ask for more grace when we are faced with situations which origin we cannot explain. Shalom.

Your Turn

• Read our devotional passage again. Ask the Lord where you are in the spectrum of things.
• Is the situation you are facing an instrument of training or testing? Talk to God.

Song: Draw me close to You.

Wisdom for the Day: Proverbs 26