Manasseh… Epohraim… Zebulun… Naphtali… Dan. (Judges 1:27-36 ESV)
Rational Disobedience
Cut from the descriptions of which tribes of Israel failed to fully conquer their portion of the promised land, we can add Benjamine and Judah from earlier verses.
These failures led directly to the troubles Israel had during the time of the Judges. These failures led to the struggles for Kingship between King Saul and King David. These failures led eventually to the division of Israel and Judah after the death of King Solomon.
There were clear reasons for each tribe’s failure.
Some of the Israelites were tired from years of wandering and war. In some cases, the enemy was too firmly rooted in defensible geography. In some cases the remaining enemies made useful laborers, so getting rid of them was not practical.
But really, simply, at core… it was disobedience.
And we see in the Israelites that disobedience to God usually seems to make sense. Rebellion against God (which is another name for disobedience) is often well-dressed… sensible… practical… and rational.
But only in the short term.
Because disobedience always leads to death.
Our rational disobedience looks a lot like the Israelites. Obedience, even for heart-changed believers, can be hard. Disobedience seems sometimes expedient, and we always disobey ‘just this once.’ We disobey God for practical, profitable reasons. We disobey God because obedience takes more time than disobedience. We disobey God because other folk have paved the way.
We disobey because we still need Jesus.
Israel’s disobedience did lead to the troubles in the time of the Judges, to the conflict between Saul and David, and to the tearing of Israel in twain.
It also led to the necessity of the Messiah.
Of course, this does not mean that disobedience ultimately is a good thing. But God understands it and provided a solution, Christ Jesus. It does not alter His love for His people. It does not change His mind about us. Our disobedience does not defeat God.
Because even when we don’t get rid of the sin lurking, Christ on the cross finishes the job!