KEY SCRIPTURE: Judge 1:19 KJV And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel inquired from the Lord about who should lead them. The Lord said Judah shall go up against the Canaanites. Judges 1:2. Judah indeed took the lead and started conquering.

In verse 19 of Judges 1, the Bible said “And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.” They drove out the Canaanites in the mountain, but could not drive out those in the valley. The Lord was with them all the same. Why did they turn back when they met the people in the valley? They met a stronger opposition, and so, doubted the word of God, which he had given.

Doubting or unbelief in the word of God is one of the major causes of discouragement. Reading through the accounts of the expedition of the Israelite to annex the promised lands, we realize they left quite a large area not annexed, because of unbelief. In numbers 13 and 14, the report of the ten spies were statement of unbelief, which created a great sense of discouragement among the Israelites. Num 14:1 KJV “And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night”.

Unbelief would rob a person of any superior source of strength to keep moving on. In cases when the opposition appear greater than your perception can, unbelief in the Lord will make you very helpless.

Take time to feed your faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17. Put your faith into work by acting on the word. This will strengthen your faith, so that in difficult and challenging times, you would not doubt God but rather trust him.

CONFESSION

I thank you Father for your word. I constantly feed my faith, and so I am ever ready for any opposition. I do not give in or give up. I am more than a conqueror.

FURTHER STUDIES

 Hebrews 10:35 KJV “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward”

Hebrews 11:33 KJV” Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,”