How Culture Shifts When Believers Quit | Judges 1:27-33

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Support our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video over the next 23 years. Read more about it here: PROJECT23

Our text today is Judges 1:27-33:

Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely. And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them. Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them, but became subject to forced labor. Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon or of Ahlab or of Achzib or of Helbah or of Aphik or of Rehob, so the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out. Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, so they lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to forced labor for them. — Judges 1:27-33

It started small. One tribe didn’t fully obey. Then another. Then another. Until compromise became the norm, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali—all of them— failed to drive out the people God had commanded them to remove. And the language is chilling: they did not drive out… they lived among…

What began as a delay turned into disobedience. Disobedience evolved into a cultural shift. Before long, coexisting with sin replaced conquering it.

Here’s the danger: when one man compromises, others will follow. When one tribe accepts partial obedience, others begin to believe it’s acceptable. Spiritual apathy is contagious. It numbs courage. It silences conviction. And it spreads through passivity.

As Christians, our influence carries weight. Your kids, your friends, your brothers, your church—they’re all watching. Not to see perfection, but to see consistency. To see surrender. To see obedience even when it’s hard. You may think your compromise only affects you. But it doesn’t. It affects your circle. And eventually, it reshapes a culture. Don’t underestimate the influence of your obedience—or your passivity.

This is your call to drive out what needs to be driven out. Don’t coexist with what God has called you to confront. Stand up today, even if others sit down.

ASK THIS:

1. What area of my life have I let slide because others around me have?
2. Who’s watching my obedience and learning from it?
3. What sin or habit have I tolerated that God has clearly addressed?
4. What would courageous obedience look like today?

DO THIS:

Identify one spiritual compromise you’ve tolerated due to others’ influence, and take a stand to reject it.

PRAY THIS:

God, I don’t want to blend in with spiritual apathy. Give me the courage to confront what others have ignored and to live fully surrendered to You. Amen

PLAY THIS:

"Give Me Faith."