The Consequences of Compromise

The Consequences of Compromise

Judges 1:21-36 (KJV) ²¹ And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. ²² And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them. ²³ And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.) ²⁴ And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy. ²⁵ And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family. ²⁶ And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day. ²⁷ Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. ²⁸ And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. ²⁹ Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. ³⁰ Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. ³¹ Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: ³² But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. ³³ Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them. ³⁴ And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: ³⁵ But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. ³⁶ And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

 

God had clearly commanded His children to drive out all the inhabitants of Canaan.  He had clearly promised the victory. (Judges 1:1-2)

In Judges 1:21-36 we see the consequences of compromise.  We see the death of determination.  Israel's success is turned to failure. 

• The Benjamites fail.  There isn't any recorded attempts to drive out the enemy. (21)
• Manasseh fails.  They disobey God and enslaved the Canaanites.  Choosing the gold of Canaan led to embracing the gods of Canaan. (27)
• Ephraim fails.  Their failure led to idolatry.  Hosea 4:17—Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
• Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan all fail. (30-34)

The consequences of compromise are costly. They allow their enemies to remain using them for profit.  The love of money is the root of all evil!

• The Canaanites infiltrate Israel gaining more and more strength and influence.
• Compromise leads to defeat.  Israel is conquered by their enemies. When you give the devil an inch, he will take a mile!
• Israel intermarries with the Canaanites and become idolatrous (3:6-7).
• God is angered. (2:14-15)

The compromise of Israel led to its defeat.  It led to them turning their backs on God and losing His blessing.  They literally snatched defeat out of the jaw of victory!

When we as children of God start compromising on His truth and His commandments we too start down the road of defeat.