TEST AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE
1 THESE ARE THE NATIONS THAT THE LORD LEFT IN THE LAND TO TEST THOSE ISRAELITES who had not experienced the wars of Canaan.
2 HE DID THIS TO TEACH WARFARE TO GENERATIONS OF ISRAELITES WHO HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN BATTLE."
Judges 3:1,2 (NLT)
The inhabitants of Canaan land that were not conquered by Joshua, which were left behind, was orchestrated by God to be so. God wanted to use the people to test and train the up-and-coming generation of the Israelites about warfare (Judges 3:1,2).
This is also applicable to the believers in the contemporary time, it is only that, we do not fight physical battles but spiritual (Ephesians 6:12).
The main adversary or archenemy of believers is the devil (Revelation 12:9,10). Albeit, there are human beings who yielded themselves to the devil and are used as instruments against the believers.
The work of these people is to act for the devil, they are his agents (2 Timothy 2:26). The devil empowered such people to do evil and propagate his works on the earth. They are the enemies of the people of God, believers in general.
Such who are called agents of the dark kingdom are: witches, wizards, occultists, voodoo priests, and a number of others. These people may not be outrightly removed or destroyed by God, they are allowed to remain for a purpose.
If every opposser around you was removed, and you lived in comfort without any challenge from the devil, his human agents and demons; you tend to be complacent and not serve God again.
Some forces of the dark kingdom and human agents of the devil are permitted around you to teach you about spiritual warfare, and to test your heart whether you would obey God's commandments or not:
1 NOW THESE ARE THE NATIONS WHICH THE LORD LEFT, THAT HE MIGHT TEST ISRAEL BY THEM, THAT IS, ALL WHO HAD NOT KNOWN ANY OF THE WARS IN CANAAN 2 (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), 4 AND THEY WERE LEFT, THAT HE MIGHT TEST ISRAEL BY THEM, TO KNOW WHETHER THEY WOULD OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD, WHICH HE HAD COMMANDED THEIR FATHERS BY THE HAND OF MOSES" (Judges 3:1,2,4 NKJV).
The devil is there to challenge whatever you may want to do for God's kingdom. At times, God would want you to face battles, challenges, that you might be able to know how to handle conflicts and oppositions successfully; in whatever you are assigned to do (1 Peter 5:8,9).
The devil would not want you to get what the Lord has promised and apportioned you, to have, without putting up a fight. There are giants in every Canaan land apportioned you by God (Numbers 13:28,31-33).
You may not get whatever typifies your land of inheritance with ease; It is mostly gotten by violence: "AND FROM THE DAYS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST UNTIL NOW THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN SUFFERS VIOLENCE, AND THE VIOLENT TAKE IT BY FORCE" (Matthew 11:12 NKJV).
God did allow certain nations in Canaan to teach the new generation of the Israelites about warfare. He did not allow Joshua to completely kill and drive out all the inhabitants of the land (Judges 2:21-23).
You can not dodge a number of battles, there are forces and human agents of the devil that would be allowed to teach you about spiritual warfare.
If you left a place because of opposition, you should know that the new place you are going, some oppossers would equally be there waiting for you.
The truth is, there might not be any free and easy zone where there would be no any opposing forces! The forces and human agents of the devil that are permitted, are not meant to kill you; they are allowed to train you and build your spiritual muscles or strengths. They are to train and teach you about spiritual warfare and of course bring about, or be the cause of, or be used to enhance, your spiritual growth (Judges 3:2).
By being exposed to challenges of life and allowed to face oppositions, your spiritual strengths and muscles are built up; therby, you would be able to have strong spiritual stamina and become a stalwart believer.
The Bible also mentioned that those heathen nations were left unconquered that God might test the Israelites whether they would obey His commandmments or not (Judges 3:4).
Likewise in the life of every believer, the forces allowed are to test them whether they would obey the commandments of God and the instructions given them by Him (Judges 3:1).
Whenever you allowed or permitted laxity, spiritual apathy or whatever, in your life; God would permit the devil, or any of his agents, to touch your comfort, that you might be awoken from your slumber and brace up as a good soldier of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:6; 2 Timothy 2:3,4).
God may allow your dreams to be manipulated, and also may permit lacks, disappointments, and any other form of frustration and oppression in order to wake you up from whatever spiritual slumbering you are. The awakening would also be allowed that you might be able to pray, fast, and be diligent in the study of the Word of God. The awakening would gear you up for a constitent practice of the giving of your substance or money, attending church meetings, and the practice of other spiritual principles.
Remember, God is not the cause of whatever the affliction in question, but your spiritual apathy gives a room for the devil to have a field Day in your life: "FOR GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION BUT OF PEACE, AS IN ALL THE CHURCHES OF THE SAINTS" (1 Corinthians 14:33).
If you, as a believer, break the hedge, the serpent will bite (Ecclesiastes 10:8).
God is loving, He would not want you to go into spiritual apathy. He would not want you to lose your salvation, your fellowship or communion with Him, and whatever blessing He has bestowed on you—the blessings you were blessed with.
Whenever there is a gap between you and God, a gap in your relationship with Him; He may permit the enemy, the devil, to shake you up; that you may run back to Him (Amos 4:6-11).
God would not want to share the affection you have for Him with any other person, or graven image, or thing (Isaiah 42:8).
When you started giving attention to someone or something more than God, then you are calling for problems. God would allow whoever you give attention, and whatever you give priority, more than Him; to humble you, disappoint you, and chastise you.
Your attention should be given to God alone, He is interested in every affair of your life. God desires our fellowship than any other thing. If you starved God of your fellowship or communion, He would allow you to receive disappointments from wherever or whoever your focus or heart is.
You can only take your inheritance, your promised land, through consistent fellowship or communion with God.
Do not allow any gap in your relationship with Him. Thus, put up a plan on how to know Him the more, that is, how to grow in your walk with God.
If you allowed any gap in your relationship and fellowship with God, you may have to suffer for it.
It is my prayer that you will not suffer in Jesus' name.
Peace!