I love roses...all colors, shapes, and variations! They are gorgeous and instantly add elegance to any table, desk, or night stand! The fragrance of a dozen roses seems to linger for days on end. The only problem with one of these long stem beauties is that it always comes equipped with thorns. I don't care for thorns much...But I have been pondering thorns lately...
I have been reading through the Bible in chronological order this year during my quiet time...which more often than not is anything but "quiet" but that is a story for another day. The second chapter of Judges brought about my pondering of thorns.
And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
*A Failure to Complete Conquests
Despite the conquests that the Israelites had made, there were still sections of unclaimed territory, and inhabitants who had not been driven out...contrary to God's specific orders.
*The Danger of an Incomplete Conquest
The influence of and the fascination with the pagans left in the territory generated a spirit of compromise that led to intermarriage, idolatry, immorality, and ultimately oppression by various pagan peoples.
The Israelites failed to fully obey the word of the LORD...and for this disobedience, the LORD allowed the thorns.
And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
I have read this account on many occasions and I still get the same chill each time that I read it. What happened...how could this happen...in one generation? The words begin to swirl around in my mind....disobedience, compromise, fascination with the pagan culture, intermarriage, idolatry, immorality...THORNS!
I must say that I have been feeling some thorns in my side of late...and the adversary stepped in to take full advantage of every situation. I have felt like throwing in the towel on it all at times...and then I am driven to my knees to cry out to my LORD, just as the Israelites did in the days of the Judges.
Our role as wives and mothers in the days in which we live are of utmost importance. There is a sense of urgency surrounding us...we must not lose faith. We cannot afford to give up or give in...even though the way of the world would have us do so.
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
May the thorns of life prove us to be a faithful generation...equipping the next generation to know and serve our gracious LORD.
