Judges 1

“Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?" (v1). As a nation, Israel was charged with defeating the Canaanites, and they had a covenant with God.  However, each individual and tribe had to voluntarily embrace their role in God’s plan.  Individuals like Othniel and Achsah (v13-15) stepped out in faith, while tribes like Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh struggled in their battles and were not completely victorious. Within “Israel,” a thousand different choices were made.

“What do you want?” (v14).  We are part of a covenant community, yet each one of us makes our own choice: God’s will, or our own, His ways, or our own.