Observations
(1) The rest of chapter 1 recorded the history of how Israel did not drive out the Canaanites. Only 1 successful attack for the house of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) v.22-26, but right after that was their records of not driving out the Canaanites v.27-29. The word "drive out" did not state whether they have tried to force the people out or not. It just states the fact that they did not make the Canaaites dispossess the land.
(2) Why were the Canaaites not driven out?
2:1 The LORD’s angelic messenger went up from Gilgal to Bokim. He said, “I brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land I had solemnly promised to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my agreement with you, 2:2 but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.’ But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing?2:3 At that time I also warned you, ‘If you disobey, I will not drive out the Canaanites before you. They will ensnare you and their gods will lure you away.’ ”
God will never break His agreement with Israel but Israel must not make an agreement with the Canaanites v.1-2. Why would Israel not have both the relationship with God and with the Canaanites?
v.2b "You should tear down the altars where they worship."
v.3b They will ensnare you and their gods will lure you away.
In other words, the relationship with the Canaaites would lead them to have the relationship with their deities.
Will any relationship you have with the world that will lead our hearts to worship with other idols? Or buying more and more to their value systems?
When Israel disobeyed God then God would not drive out the Canaanites. From chapter 1, we knew that most of the time, it was not military power that Israel did not drive out the Canaaites because they could force the Canaanites to be their labor. (only 1 passage mentioned that the Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country, but whenever the tribe of Joseph wasa trong militarily they forced the Amorites to do hard labor v.34-35). The real reason was God did not drive them out when they disobeyed God.
The result was predicted in v.3
"They will ensnare you and their gods will lure you away."
More "traps" were set up for their future generations.
Reflection:
What were the Israelites thinking? They fought the war to take over the land based on God's promise to their ancestors. They saw success in Bethel, a military important city.
(BKC) [Bethel] was strategically located on the north-south trade route, and was a junction for traffic from the Mediterranean seacoast on the west and from the Jordan Valley via Jericho on the east.
They should have known that was the presence of God to help them. God commanded them not to have agreement with the people and tear down the altars, but they chose to disobey.
Either, they did not think their success was due to God. If it was their might that they got Bethel then there was no need to keep the agreement with God.
Or, they did not believe what God said. They might think there was no big deal to have agreement with people. Why was God so restrictive to whom I should have agreement with? "I could be ok and not worship their idols."
Sometimes, we think we are above God and pick and choose the commands of God. "As long as I do not do...then it is ok, no need to follow everything from the Bible." Watch out to whom we associate with.
When they saw more and more Canaaites were not being driven out that should be a big warning sign to them. They should have asked themselves, how come? There is nothing too difficult for our Mighty LORD, it must be something wrong between our relationship with the LORD.
May we have that sensitivity to examine ourselves when we failed. I do not say the punishment of God is the ONLY reason for our failure, but do not exclude that as a possibility.
Looking back in our lives, we should see that God's hands are with us, just like Israel should know that their success was due to God. If yes, then we have no reason to not obey God.
Audrey
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