Excuses Don't Work with God - Joshua 16-18 and Luke 2:1-24
It is true that God is merciful, but He doesn't take excuses. If we fail to do His will, we have to face the consequences. He may lessen the punishment, because of His mercy, but we still have to be punished for sin. Offering excuses for our lack of obedience is sin.
In Joshua 16-18 the tribes continue to receive their inheritance in the land of Canaan. Unfortunately, they are not obedient to God. They do not drive out the Canaanites completely, as He said to do. The tribe of Ephraim allowed the Canaanites to live among them as forced laborers. The Bible simply says that they did not drive them out. They decided it was better to have them as forced laborers than to obey God. Whatever their excuse or reason for doing this, it was sin. Then, in the case of the tribe of Manasseh the Bible says that they "could" not drive out the Canaanites. Was that true or was that an excuse? It was an excuse, because God told them, He would fight for them. They simply did not want to trust God, so they said they couldn't do His will. How many times do we do this same thing? We think of an excuse for not doing God's will, and we convince ourselves that God will accept it from us. Believe me, He never accepts an excuse.
If anyone ever had an excuse for not doing God's will, it was Joseph and Mary. Poor and pregnant, they were called on to make a long trip for a Roman census. They did not make an excuse, they went. They found no room in the inn, but they did not leave and go home. They stayed. The baby was born in a stable, so they had to put him in a manger, but they were faithful. There were no excuses. I believe God was pleased by their faith. I believe he sent the shepherds to see the Messiah and to spread the news, but he also sent them to show His pleasure for their tenacity. They did it. They had the baby God told them about, and He was the Messiah. Then, they went to the Temple to present the offering for a newborn son. It was just two pigeons, because they were poor, but there were no excuses because they did not have more money. What faithfulness in the face of great difficulties! I pray that we will have that kind of faith, instead of making excuses.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Joshua 19-21 and Luke 2:25-52.
In Joshua 16-18 the tribes continue to receive their inheritance in the land of Canaan. Unfortunately, they are not obedient to God. They do not drive out the Canaanites completely, as He said to do. The tribe of Ephraim allowed the Canaanites to live among them as forced laborers. The Bible simply says that they did not drive them out. They decided it was better to have them as forced laborers than to obey God. Whatever their excuse or reason for doing this, it was sin. Then, in the case of the tribe of Manasseh the Bible says that they "could" not drive out the Canaanites. Was that true or was that an excuse? It was an excuse, because God told them, He would fight for them. They simply did not want to trust God, so they said they couldn't do His will. How many times do we do this same thing? We think of an excuse for not doing God's will, and we convince ourselves that God will accept it from us. Believe me, He never accepts an excuse.
If anyone ever had an excuse for not doing God's will, it was Joseph and Mary. Poor and pregnant, they were called on to make a long trip for a Roman census. They did not make an excuse, they went. They found no room in the inn, but they did not leave and go home. They stayed. The baby was born in a stable, so they had to put him in a manger, but they were faithful. There were no excuses. I believe God was pleased by their faith. I believe he sent the shepherds to see the Messiah and to spread the news, but he also sent them to show His pleasure for their tenacity. They did it. They had the baby God told them about, and He was the Messiah. Then, they went to the Temple to present the offering for a newborn son. It was just two pigeons, because they were poor, but there were no excuses because they did not have more money. What faithfulness in the face of great difficulties! I pray that we will have that kind of faith, instead of making excuses.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Joshua 19-21 and Luke 2:25-52.