To Teach Them War

Judges 2:22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
Judges 2:23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
Judges 3:1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
Judges 3:2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;

There are enemies we are facing in this generation… some new, and some old. How we deal with these adversaries will determine our future.
God allows some enemies to surface from generation to generation, to teach them war. To teach them how to find the carpet in prayer. To teach them how to battle in the spirit. To teach them how to stand in strength and withstand adversity.

Our forefathers had some enemies common to us, and some that we will never understand. But even they had to learn for themselves how to war against the enemies of their day.

This generation is being tested. Tested with false doctrine. Tested with worldliness. Tested with the lust of the eyes, flesh and pride of life. Tested with popularity. Tested with ecumenism.

Some things should have been conquered once and for all by those who have gone before us…
…and some things will always be left for the next generation to wrestle with for their own…
…to teach them war.