They did not destroy the peoples,
as the Lord commanded them,
but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.
They served their idols,
which became a snare to them
Judges 3:1
Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal- hermon as far as Lebo- hamath. They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And their daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods
Exodus 15:25
There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer
Who likes to be tested? If I am fit for the testing I don’t mind. I remember training for a marathon and how there were routine testings of duration – how long could I run and at what pace. Even before the marathon I only ran 21 miles as a test to give myself confidence that I could make a full marathon. I was told 21 was the magic number and if you could do this you could finish. Still you don’t know until you test your body against the challenge of 26 miles. When I finished my first marathon it was then I knew I could make it. The test was complete. God gave the Israelites times of testing to see if they would obey. There were those who would obey and many more who would not. We are told to train ourselves up to be humble servants honoring and glorifying God. Being tested helps us hold on firmer, see more of His holiness, deepen our faith, experience happiness, joy, peace, and learn what it means to follow God in good times and times of troubles. Our training is never done when it comes to knowing God. Keep your heart, mind and soul focused on humbly serving Him. God may test you to grow your walk with Him. He may test you to show you an area of your life that needs to change.
