Thorns In The Eye

Mo. 11/11/13: Joshua 16:10                  Who did not drive out the enemy?

And (the children of Ephraim) did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.

Who did not drive out the enemy? The Ephraimites willfully did not drive out the Canaanites but enforced them to labor.

Tu. 11/11/13: Joshua 15:63, 17:12 – 13                  Who could not drive out the enemy?

As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

Who could not drive out the enemy? The children of Judah and Manasseh were unable to drive out the Jebusites and the Canaanites.

We. 11/11/13: Joshua 21:43 – 45                  Who delivered all enemies into Israel’s hand?

So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.

Who delivered all enemies into Israel’s hand? The Lord God.

Th. 11/11/13: Josh. 23:11 – 13                  What warning did Israel receive?

Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and make marriages with them, … know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.

What prophetic warning did Israel receive? To love the Lord their God or their enemies would be thorns in their eyes.

Fr. 11/11/13: Matthew 13:22                  Do we have a similar warning?

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Do we have a similar warning? Yes, in the parable of the sower.