Devotional - April 23, 2004

The Israelites should have realized that God was not impressed with any degree of "good" done if the job was left undone. They certainly had difficulty completing their assignment but for them to think God would be satisfied with a partial victory only showed their disrespect for God's word.

Did the people of Israel understand God's instruction? Sure they did! In Judges 2:1-2 the angel of the Lord reminded them of their instructions before they were told of their punishment for their sin. The angel said, "Do not make a treaty with your enemy, but destroy their worship system and drive them out from among you." They did some of the things God required, but left significant parts undone. Obviously they were content to ignore what God told them and willing to receive God's judgment for the rest.

How many times have you seem a child who is about to be disciplined for ignoring instruction, accept his or her punishment rather than do the simple thing that would have avoided discipline? Certainly the Israelites had an uncomfortable job to do. Yet in their laziness ("fear" by another name), they stopped short and might as well have told God, "If you want it done, do it your self!"

What is God's response to incomplete obedience (another word for disobedience)? He said, "Not only will I not do it for you, I will turn what you regard as collateral damage into something that will haunt you for the rest of your life and the life of all your children and their children. Your new "friends" will now be a thorn in your side and their gods a snare to your feet until you do what I commanded you to do. The consequences that come along the way will live as long as you live." Paraphrase.

Enter Proverbs 13:24: "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." The reason God gave commandments was to reveal the blueprint for success. The reason He judges us for partial success is because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The reason God turned Israel's enemy into obstacles in their path was because He loved them. If they wouldn't listen, then they would be reminded every time they tripped over the rubble of their failures and into the brick wall of their stubborn obstinance.

When it comes to obeying God's word, we only have an option if we're willing to endure the painful side of God's love called discipline.