Testing Love
"I will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: That through them I may prove Israel." Judges 2:21, 22.
To this point, the LORD had made life comparatively easy for His precious Israel. He disassembled the power of their temptations by isolating them from the outside world, driving out the idols of the land. But here He says, "I will make a change. I will let the world come in." What?! We might be tempted to say the LORD is unloving. Why would He allow such sinful things to remain in Israel?" He answers in the text, "That through them I may prove Israel."
Is there no lesson for the child of God in this? Who doesn't often feel that temptation grows stronger as we get older? A little child has comparatively few temptations. We could compare childhood to Joshua’s Israel; it is sheltered from its enemy. But not forever. As life goes on, temptations trickle and then flood in. The temptations of youth are the dawn of the life of testing and proving. As hard as it is to witness, it is good for them and us. Is there any father or mother who does not wish to see what lies deep in their child's heart? How will they respond? Would a single godly virtue exist if the "bad nations" were driven out? In other words, how can you test faith if all is sight? How could you test patience if there was never a delay? How could there be hope if there was no uncertainty? How could there be strength without struggle?
Dear one, the frost ripens the sweetest grapes. In other words, harsh elements form a certain sweetness.
Pity is born of pain;
sympathy is weaved by sorrow;
courage is held by conflict,
and love grows by the threat of loss.
Yes, grace is a free gift, but grace is given on the battlefield. What is the LORD saying in this passage? He desires to be loved amid crowded rivals. Christ does not want your love just because there is no other. He desires to be my Chief among the ten thousand of my heart. This is why He does not immediately drive out all the temptations of my life. He permits them to ripen me. To reveal to me the scope of my love. All love desires to be tested. Both by loved and lover.
Then I will treasure my remaining enemy, not for what they are, but for what they might form in me by grace. And what is that?
The gift of devotion amidst danger.
Seeking Him in the storm,
waiting for Him on the waves,
finding Him amid the fire.
Then let me bless Him in the battle,
praise Him in my peril,
and become strong in owning my weakness.
Drive not out the nations from before me, O Lord, if this is my lesson. Try my reins and heart.