I have just recently started re-reading the book of Judges and have also been challenging myself to find applications of Scripture to my own life. As I read Judges 1-2, I realized how we can learn from the mistakes of the Israelites and their collective failure to drive out the foreign peoples from their land.
For a refresher ~ the book of Judges picks up Israel's story after Joshua's death.
During his life, Joshua had led the Israelites into the long-awaited Promised Land, and the people had been charged to take possession of their inheritance by driving out their enemies who currently held the land.
However, many of the tribes failed in their attempts to take over the land, and some of them even seemed apathetic, indifferent, and just plain lazy in their efforts.
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Some of the Israelite tribes later enslaved the pagans, but they still had to live among them. Even worse, the tribe of Dan was forced by the Amorites out of their inherited land and into another part of the country.
The two remaining tribes (Joseph and Judah) took over the cities that God had given them. The people of the tribe of Judah were the most successful in their efforts--they fought the Canaanites in several different areas and took possession of the hill country.
However, because Israel failed to completely follow through with God's commands, they cheated themselves of the fullness that He wanted to give them. They did not have the opportunity to live freely in their promised land.
After reading this passage, I began to ask myself: "What are the 'enemies' in my life that I need to drive out of my heart? Which things in my life are hindering me from living in the fullness that God has for me?"
For me, one of the main hindrances is fear. I know that this is probably one of the biggest factors that holds me back from living in the fullness that God has for