Judges 1:31, 32

"Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: but the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out."

With the LORD’s direction and help Joshua had lead the Israelites across Jordan and into the promised land. At the LORD’s direction, Joshua divided up the promised land, though not entirely conquered, into pieces for the tribes of Israel to inherit. At the end of his life Joshua encouraged Israel to possess the lands that they had been given. He told them to depend upon the LORD in this endeavor since it was He that had given them the lands in the first place.

The book of Judges starts with the death of Joshua, and chronicles the history of Israel in their efforts to take the land. Sad to say, of all of the tribes of Israel, none were able to entirely drive out the inhabitants of the land, and take it. Certainly, the failure was not God’s, but theirs. God's direction that they should take the land was clear. On only one occasion, recorded in Judges 1, did the Israelites look to the LORD for leading in the conquest.

The most extreme examples of failure were the efforts of the tribes of Asher and Dan. In the case of the tribe of Dan it is recorded that the inhabitants of the land chased them into the mountains where they were now living. The Danites were totally unable to prevail. Asher, mentioned in Judges 1:31, 32, failed only slightly less than Dan. For while Dan’s enemies chased them away, the tribe of Asher and the inhabitants of the land co-existed in the land. At least the Asherites had gained some foothold. In the above passage it is noted that the Asherites dwelt among the inhabitants of the land. The enemies had not chased them away, as had happened to Dan.

Contrast this with the rest of the tribes of Israel. While they were not able to entirely drive out the inhabitants of the land, they were at least able to bring them to servitude, paying tribute to the government of the tribe. It is said that the inhabitants of the land dwelt among them. But in Asher’s case it is recorded that they dwelt among the inhabitants of the land. There is a significant difference. In Asher’s inheritance from the LORD the inhabitants of the land were the ones that were in charge. But, the LORD had given this land to the tribe of Asher; they should have taken it.

The failure of the tribe of Asher, as well as the other tribes of Israel, to take the land lies in an unwillingness to look to God for help in the task. He had promised them that He would fight for them. So it must not have been a matter of being too large a task, or that they were facing overwhelming odds. In 2 Chronicles 14 we find Israel and King Asa faced with a huge battle with two to one odds. King Asa and his army of 580,000 was about to go out to battle against an army from Ethiopia which consisted of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. Vere 11 says, "... Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee." This prayer makes it clear that Asa knew that any man with God on his side had the advantage against any odds. He was willing to ask for God’s help. And God came through.

Two lessons come from this. First, while God will put us in the place to gain what He has for us, He leaves it to us to do some work. It is akin to having a checking account with plenty of money to meet our needs. The bank is not going to call us to see what we want or need. It falls to us to go and get it. Adam was clearly told what God’s expectations were ("Don’t eat from that tree"), but God did not post an angelic guard to make sure Adam stayed away. In fact, neither did He get in the way of Adam and Eve eating from the tree. God has told us what are His expectations. We should follow Him. In 2 Peter 1:3 Peter tells us that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. These are things we have, not will have. But believers seem to fail to show this mighty truth in their lives. Could the failures of the tribe of Asher illustrate the problem? Could it be that it is incumbent on us to work these things out in our lives? It is particularly interesting to notice that the Asherites found themselves to be under the rule of the inhabitants, where God wanted that they should be the ones in control. Does this parallel any area in our own lives?

The second lesson is that God is a mighty help. The previous paragraph contains a caveat, even a paradox, that is not to be overlooked. While God leaves it to us to work these things out, it is not within us to do so! The only way that any of these could have prevailed is by God’s help. And that help was available to Asher, Dan, the other tribes, and even Adam, not to mention us, all along! It was only a prayer, only a request, away. Perhaps the reason some think He is aloof is that they never have asked Him for help. He is not rude.

So, it is up to us. God wants us to live lives that please and honor Him. And there are things that He leaves to us to work out. But, without His help it is impossible to do. So we must throw ourselves upon Him for the ability to do that which He expects. One day, Israel will own all of the land that God had promised them. Not one square inch will be unclaimed. They will finally turn to Him for the help He provides. So it can be for us even now as we look to Him. He will gives the help we need, and we shall glorify Him.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

HJK