Those Who Were Left in the Land (Judges 3:7–11) 3/8/2026
Those Who Were Left in the Land (Judges 3:7–11) 3/8/2026
After Joshua’s generation dies, the later generations of Israel continually suffers under the Canaanite people. At first, they thought they could compromise and simply live alongside them. However, just as God had warned, those people became traps and thorns, bringing suffering upon the Israelites. It says that they were ruled over for eight years in that land (v.8).
Why did they have to go through such things? First, the responsibility of the parents’ generation was great. They failed to pass down the correct covenant and faith. They did not properly teach who God was, or how God had fought for His people and led them to that point.
But there was another reason. God allowed it.
Why did God allow it? There are many times when we cannot understand what God is doing. Yet there is certainly a deep purpose within it. In verses 1–2, it says that God left the unconquered Canaanite nations in the land for two purposes.
First, He left them to test Israel, who had not experienced all the wars of Canaan.
Judges 2:21–23 explains this more specifically. God wanted to see whether the descendants would follow the example of their parents who held onto the covenant and obeyed God in conquering Canaan. Even today, God tests our choices of faith and obedience through many problems and events. In ordinary times it may appear that we believe well, but what we choose in times of crisis and difficulty is what truly matters.
Second, He wanted to teach those who had not known war how the people of God achieve victory within it. In reality, God Himself was doing what the parents’ generation had failed to do. God never abandons the future generations of His chosen people. Though they may suffer in the world because they do not understand, God Himself works directly in their lives.
- This is God’s love toward those who are saved
Would great would it have been if Jesus, on the cross, had simply sent Satan who deceives and commits evil in human life directly to hell? Then God’s people would not need to face temptation, failure, and suffering again.
1) The day will come when our enemy Satan is completely destroyed.
Christ will return, judge all evil, and cast Satan behind it into hell forever (Revelation 20:13–14).
Then the new heaven and the new earth will be opened (Revelation 21:1–5). There are eternal blessings that God’s people will enjoy (Revelation 22:5).
2) Until that time, there is something God desires from us.
While living on this earth, we are to know Christ, the eternal answer of life whom God has sent, and within that Christ live as those who overcome life’s despair, suffering, and every enemy. Through this process, our lives reach the conclusion of only Christ (Galatians 2:20). At that point, other problems no longer matter. Even the small things we do become God’s masterpiece and testimony (Romans 8:28). Through this, we are to save people like ourselves and go to the ends of the earth to save all nations (Acts 1:8).
3) Without this training and experience, we don’t even get to just live. We will continue to be deceived by the world and live in suffering. The later generations of Israel in the Book of Judges lived this heartbreaking life. When parents truly love their children, they sometimes send them into challenges to train them and raise them into great people. Likewise, God trains us like an eagle that stirs up its nest and carries its young on its wings (Deuteronomy 32:11–12).
- This is God’s method for using those who are saved
Not only the wicked remain in the world. The wicked remain for a time of wickedness (Proverbs 16:4, 2 Peter 2:9).
1) There are also those whom God has chosen and left behind for His purpose. They are the remnants (Romans 11:5).
① Before the judgment of the flood, God chose Noah to build the ark (Genesis 6:8). Through the ark He prophesied Christ, and Noah lived as the evangelist of his generation (Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5).
② During the age of the Tower of Babel, when idolatry was strong, God chose Abraham and sent him to Canaan (Genesis 12:1–3).
③ When Israel faced destruction, God chose Esther to save the nation and establish the Feast of Purim (Esther 9:24–26). Haman drew lots to determine the day Israel would be destroyed, but on that very day he died and Israel was saved. Likewise, Satan believed he had won when Christ was crucified, but the cross was actually the day Satan was defeated.
2) God has called us as remnants in this age. God gave us four blessings and missions.
He intends to establish us as witnesses of this ge. That is why He planted within us the “holy seed” (Isaiah 6:13), which is Christ.
① Though we are very lacking, we save the world with the mystery of Christ. These are the remaining ones.
② Satan stands against the church to destroy it, but we will overcome together with Christ (Revelation 17:14). These are the ones who will remain.
③ Though we live in a world full of suffering and disasters, through our faith and prayers we change the spiritual flow (Mark 16:17–18). In this way we become the ones who remain. The world and the devil must see God’s evidence through us and through our church.
④ Then summit future generations who are used for only Christ, only evangelism, and only missions must arise. These are the ones who leave behind. This is why we focus on evangelism, missions, and the remnant ministry of raising the next generation. Caleb was blessed because he raised such a future generation. The first judge of Israel in this passage, Othniel, was that very person.
- What kind of person was Othniel, the one who remained?
1) As emphasized before, every judge is first a prophecy and foreshadowing of Christ.
① Othniel acted as their deliverer (v.9). God raised a deliverer for the Israelites. In the same way, Christ came as our Savior (Luke 2:10). With the authority of the Priest, King, and Prophet, He liberated us, broke Satan’s power, and remains with us forever.
② The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel, and he fought against the king of Mesopotamia and won (v.10). This represents Christ who came as the victorious One. We are to continue enjoying spiritual victory together with this victorious Christ. We fight a battle that has already been won (1 John 4:4). Not only do we win, but everything becomes a testimony (1 Corinthians 15:57–58).
③ When Othniel governed Israel, the land had peace for forty years (v.11). This represents Christ who came as the eternal King who rules us (Luke 1:33). It is the Kingdom of God that comes within us (Romans 14:17). In a world full of conflict, division, and suffering, we must enjoy the blessing of Christ ruling our spirit, heart, thoughts, body, and every part of our lives.
2) These judges also foreshadow the disciples of Christ who will be used at God’s appointed time for the work He delights in.
God neither wants us nor our future generations to be people who merely attend church. He wants us to stand as disciples of Christ.
Conclusion – The wicked are also left for a time of evil. But we are the ones left behind in this age to give the world the answer and to live in victory.
3.8.26 Those Who Were Left in the Land
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