Judges 1 – Trusting God in Obedience
Read Judges 1:19
Today’s Truth
Judges 1 opens with a description of Israel’s incomplete conquest of the Promised Land. After the death of Joshua, the tribes of Israel sought God’s guidance on how to continue the task of driving out the remaining inhabitants. While some tribes experienced victories with God’s help, many failed to fully obey His command to drive out all the inhabitants of the land. They allowed fear, complacency, and compromise to hinder them, leading to cohabitation with the Canaanites, which ultimately led to spiritual and moral corruption.
This chapter highlights the importance of trusting God completely, even when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. It also serves as a warning against partial obedience and the long-term consequences of compromise.
Discussion Questions
- In Judges 1:1, the Israelites asked God, “Who shall go up first?” How does this demonstrate their dependence on God?
- Judges 1:19 says the men of Judah succeeded with God’s help but faltered when they faced the Canaanites’ iron chariots. What does this reveal about their trust in God?
- Are there areas in your life where you’ve settled for “good enough” instead of fully obeying God? What changes can you make?
Application
Judges 1 reminds us that victory is possible when we trust in God’s strength, not our own. Partial obedience is still disobedience, and compromise with sin can lead to spiritual decay. Let us commit to trusting God fully and surrendering every area of our lives to Him.
