Exceptions

"Now as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the sons of Judah could not drive them out; so the Jebusites live with the sons of Judah at Jerusalem until this day... But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers." -Joshua 15.63; 16.10

The land is being divided, and the tribes of Israel are each being given their share. Judah and Manasseh are the first tribes to be given land west of the Jordan, but the final verse of each chapter shows an exception. Judah could not drive the Jebusites from Jerusalem, and Manasseh did not drive the Canaanites from Gezer. Both of these groups remained alive within the borders of the land given to these tribes, and with them, the opportunity for them to influence Israel away from God.

It is said that Judah could not drive them out. Maybe they tried to do it alone and failed. Jerusalem is a very well placed city that is very difficult to attack. But for whatever reason the Jebusites remained there. It says that Manasseh did not drive them out. Instead the Canaanites became their servants. God commanded Israel to destroy the nations of the Promised Land, and for the third time now, some of them have been allowed to remain alive.

Men, do you make exceptions in your life? For one reason or another do you allow something to remain that God has instructed you to get rid of? It will only result in your destruction. One traitor within the walls is all that it takes to open the gate for the enemy army to enter in. One exception is all that it takes to compromise all of your integrity and resolve.

Let us be men who make no exceptions. Let us fully obey God and remove every aspect of sin from our lives.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Drive Out Giants

"Now he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah, according to the command of the Lord to Joshua, namely, Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron). Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the children of Anak." -Joshua 15.13-14

Caleb is eighty-five, and not only is he still ready and willing to fight the giants, he drives them out and claims victory over them. Every man is a warrior until the day that he dies. But not all men fight battles until they die. Some men never fight battles, let alone take on giants.

Caleb had seen God work. He had witnessed the plagues in Egypt, he had walked through the Red Sea. He knew what God was capable of, and was willing to trust Him to take the land inspite of what the other spies said. He trusted God, and God allowed him to enter the land. God was with him as they took possession of the land, and he is given part of it as his own. He had trusted God all of his life and now, after eight and a half decades, he still has the faith to drive out giants.

Men, what does your faith look like? What battles are you engaged in? Are you willing to follow God and take on enemies that seem impossible? Are you willing to spend your life fighting against something big that matters? The battle doesn't have to end when you retire, you are a warrior made in the image of God, and until the day you die, you will be a warrior. Are you willing to fight? Are you willing to trust God and take on the giants?

Caleb was willing, and God was with him all of his life. At eighty-five Caleb is defeating giants. So can we.

Let us be men of faith. Let us be men who trust God and are willing to fight. Let us be men who drive out giants.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor