The tide has turned, the leadership is changing in every area of society, the land is being redeemed for the glory of God to fill the earth, but we must remember history in order not to repeat it. Judges 1 speaks of the 12 tribes of Israel being given authority to take possession of land God has given them, but in order to do that, they must drive out the evil inhabitants of the land. This was the command of the Lord to them from their leader Joshua, Yeshua.

Judges 1 speaks of how each tribe did not drive out the inhabitants of the land, but let them dwell with them and just subjected them to forced labor. Subjecting them to forced labor was not the command, they were to drive them out completely. It may sound good to not drive them out, but it was not what God told them to do. Our job is not to adjust what God has said, but to obey what God has said, for He sees things we do not see; He knows things we do not yet know. Notwithstanding they did not obey.

Judges 2 says, “Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and 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.”

Their lack of obedience brought a thorn and a snare, while their obedience would have brought freedom and peace. The same is true for us today, we must obey the Lord, not partially, but completely. Not thinking we can adjust what He has called us to do, because it sounds good to us. Partial obedience brings thorns and a snare. We are living in a time when the land is being cleansed and it will must be a complete obedience cleansing, not just a nice touch up. Righteousness is going to exalt this nation, but there must be a cleansing of the land in all areas first. No partial obedience, it must be complete this time. Future generations will thank us for it.