Judges 1:28
And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
When Israel had grown strong they laid tribute upon the Canaanites instead of driving them out completely, and the conquest of the land therefore remained only partial. That half-finished work showed a waning zeal and a failure to carry through what God had commanded, for they stopped halfway and chose what looked more convenient and advantageous. Instead of pressing forward to occupy new territory they settled down in unbelief and love of ease to enjoy the fruit of victories already won, gathering together in the portions already conquered. In making leagues with the Canaanites they broke God's command and the condition of obedience on which possession of Canaan rested, and they did not fulfill His purpose that they should take possession of the whole land.
Those who were left in the land became a snare and thorns to Israel, and by their continued presence they blocked God's purpose to make the land a place where His knowledge would be known and heathen practices banished. By thus beginning to depart from God, Israel made it impossible for Him to fulfill to them His promise of blessing. The same guilt rests on the church today when professed Christians, with the whole world before them in need of the gospel, congregate where they themselves can enjoy gospel privileges. They feel no necessity to occupy new territory and carry the message of salvation into regions beyond, and in so doing they refuse to fulfill Christ's commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.