Thorn In Your Side

June 21

Read: Judges 2:1-5

Thorn In Your Side

“…you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.”

Anytime you keep something or someone around that God has told you to move out they will ALWAYS become a “thorn in your side” and a “snare for you”. It is interesting imagery really. A “thorn in your side” is something that is small yet annoying. It festers if not taken care of though. So much of our Christian walk is working through the small things, isn’t it? At first there are all these large and obvious changes that need to take place - but the real journey is participating with the Lord as he calls you to let go, move out and “destroy”.

There is no “deal” to be made: “you shall make no covenant with the people of the Land”. In fact, it is actually a dismantling… a breaking down: “you shall break down their altars.” These “altars”… these “artifacts” are leftovers from a different time, place, and people. They need to go. There are parts of our old lives that need to be taken down. No more “old altars” hanging around. Even if they are not being used or sacrificed on… that is not enough…they need to be destroyed… brick by brick. When these sorts of things remain, they become “snares”. A snare is something you do not see lying in your path. This is how it works. When you least expect it - zip ! - you are trapped. When an animal is trapped in a snare it tightens around its neck or its leg… not letting it move forward. These “artifacts” form our old lives can do the same thing… they thwart forward progress… they stop us dead in our tracks on our spiritual journey.

Exactly how this works is mysterious. Look at this phrase from the passage: “What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you…” (v.3) Notice how God says -“What is this YOU have done?” We have a part to play with the Lord in this process of driving out. And yet, the real power, strength and ability is rooted in the Lord: “I will not drive them out…” It was God who was doing the “driving out”, and still - some how - there was a “what have YOU done” element to it all. God is asking us to OBEY him as he empowers, calls, and leads us into “cleaning house” and moving into the “promised land” he has for his people.

When the angel of the Lord shows up to deliver this news, he reminds the Israelites of the way that God has rescued them from Egypt. (v.1) We need to be reminded at times of God’s goodness, and the ways that he has FREED us from SLAVERY… slavery to sin. (cf. Romans 5,6) God has rescued us as his children. He has good intentions for his people. When the people of Israel realize what they had done, they “lifted up their voices and wept…And they sacrificed there to the LORD.” (v.4,5) There is a healthy repentance and conviction that comes when God loves us enough to call us out when we do not obey. The reality of leaving these “altars” up and striking up deals with the enemy should make us weep! You need only call out to the Lord, ask for forgiveness, and seek his help and power in dismantling what needs to go away. He has not withdrawn his hand from you! This is the blessing of being in Christ. What things has God told you to let go of and “move out” that you have kept around? What relationships or activities are a “thorn in your side”? What is festering? Have you become ensnared… stuck… unable to move forward? There is no such thing as a “little” sin. Even “unused altars” when left in tack will come back to haunt you! As we read more we will see the way that God rescues his people. Here is the final word to end on from this passage: God says “I will never break my covenant with you…” Even though God doesn’t drive these “thorns” and “snares” out immediately - it does not mean he has abandoned his people. He WILL NOT break his covenant. We will watch in the rest of the book of Judges all of the ways that God still comes through for his people. There is always hope in Christ! Love you guys. - JDP