Judges 1:1-26.  Moses was the leader chosen by God to bring the Israelites out of Egypt where they had grown into a large family.  So large in fact that the Egyptians had made them slaves and taken extreme measures to keep them from becoming even larger (See the “Old Testament Connection“).  Joshua was one of two men from the generation  that left Egypt who was allowed to enter the promised land.  The other was Caleb (See Judges 1:12).  Moses passed on his role as leader to Joshua (Genesis 31:23).  Joshua took the people into the land, divided it up and started the conquest.  Now Joshua has died and only Caleb remains from that first generation and the land is not conquered.  The Israelites have a lot of work to do and it looks like they are starting out right, with prayer (Judges 1:1).  But as we will see as we read the book (and I will mention it also in the introduction when I finish it) the Israelites do not really follow God whole-heartedly as they were instructed to do (Deuteronomy 6:1-16).  They were instructed to push all of the inhabitants out of the land  when they took it over (Numbers 33:50-55) but right away we see them not doing that.  In Judges 1:17 we see a good beginning but by verse 19 we see them unable to force the Canaanites out(Canaan was what the area was called before Israel took it over).  In verse 19 is says it was because they had iron chariots but I think it wasn’t so much what the Canaanites had but what might have been missing from the Israelites arsenal.  Later we will see one of the “judges”, Sampson, become weak when God backs away from him.  I think that is what is happening here.  “Why?” you might ask, “Didn’t they pray about it first?”.  Yes and what was the answer?  Judah should go first.  What happens is verse 3 though?  Right off the bat Judah says, “Hey Simeon want to help.”  And that is really the problem that we will see through out the book, compromise.  And it is progressive too.  In verse 19 they “cannot” win the battle and by verse 25 we see they making an alliance with one of the inhabitants.  By the way the town he started later is called Bethel and it was only 20 mi. north of Jerusalem.  So much for forcing the inhabitants out.  It is interesting how small the details are of God’s plan.  It is very easy for us to miss the mark.  We saw in Galatians that God is merciful, we will see that in this book too, but God has standards and breaking them has consequences.  God help me be careful to learn what you want and then do it.  Help me better understand your will.  Give me the courage to do what you tell me to do.