When the Victories Cease

I. THE CONFIDENCE OF VICTORY

A. The Victory Promised

1. The Lord promised to send an angel before the Israelites (Exodus 23:20-33; esp. Exodus 23:28). Note: This promise also contains an important note that the Lord would not drive out all the inhabitants at once (Exodus 23:29).
2. God promised to drive out greater and mightier nations (Deuteronomy 4:37-38).
3. The Lord promised to drive out the nations, but warned Israel not to assume the victory was based upon their own righteousness (Deuteronomy 9:1-6).

B. The Victory Granted

1. Victory over Ai (Joshua 8:1-29)
2. Victory over five kings of the Amorites (Joshua 10:1-27))
3. Victory over Makkedah (Joshua 10:28)
4. Victory over Libnah (Joshua 10:29-30)
5. Victory over Lachish (Joshua 10:31-32)
6. Victory over Gezer (Joshua 10:33)
7. Victory over Eglon (Joshua 10:34-35)
8. Victory over Hebron (Joshua 10:36-37)
9. Victory over Debir (Joshua 10:38-39)
10. Victory over coalition of forces (Joshua 11:1-14)
11. Note: After the defeat at Ai (due to sin) (Joshua 7:1-26), the Israelites went on a victory spree that included the conquests of thirty-one kings (Joshua 12:1-24).

II. THE CESSATION OF VICTORY

A. The Original Difficulties

1. God warned that the driving out of nations would be gradual (Exodus 23:29).
2. Even during the life of Joshua (while Israel was obedient before the Lord), Israel suffered some setbacks in driving out the nations.
a. The children of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites (Joshua 15:63).
b. The children of Ephraim drave not out the Canaanites (Joshua 16:10).
c. The children of Manasseh could not drive out the Canaanites (Joshua 17:12-13). See Joshua 17:18 for Joshua’s instructions.

B. The Continued Difficulties (Judges 1:19-34)

1. Judah could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley (Judges 1:19).
2. Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites inhabiting Jerusalem (Judges 1:21).
3. Manasseh did not drive out the miscellaneous remnant (Judges 1:27-28).
4. Ephraim did not drive out the miscellaneous remnant (Judges 1:29).
5. Zebulun did not drive out the miscellaneous remnant (Judges 1:30).
6. Asher did not drive out the miscellaneous remnant (Judges 1:31-32).
7. Naphtali did not drive out the miscellaneous remnant (Judges 1:33).
8. Dan was forced into the mountain (Judges 1:34).

C. The Defeats (Judges 2:10-23)

1. The seeds of defeat were sown before Joshua died, but now they would grow bud and blossom to Israel’s demise.
2. A forgetful generation (Judges 2:10)
3. A forsaking generation (Judges 2:11-13)
4. A forsaken generation (Judges 2:14-15)
5. A fickle generation (Judges 2:16-23)

III. THE CRIPPLER OF VICTORY

A. The Warning Given (Judges 2:1-5)

1. The goodness of God (Judges 2:1)
2. The request of God (Judges 2:2a)
3. The concern of God (Judges 2:2b)
4. The judgment of God (Judges 2:3)

B. The Problem Noted (Judges 2:2)

1. The problem was not defeat. Defeat was, in fact, a symptom of the problem. Defeat is what made it known that there was a problem in the first place.
2. The problem was disobedience.
a. It seems as though the people were not fully driven out in the immediate for the purpose given of the Lord (Exodus 23:28).
b. Instead of preparing to drive the nations out, Israel accepted their presence and made leagues with them. They got more comfortable with the income and services rendered in defeat than with the steps needed to provide the victory.
1.) The masters (Israel) hired servants (the nations).
2.) The servants (the nations) soon became the masters.
3.) Those that had been masters (Israel) soon became the servants.