Joshua 24 and Judges 1-2 recount a precarious period of time for Israel. Their great leaders were passing away, and they had allowed small pockets of the previous inhabitants to stay in the land: it seems they did so to create tax revenues and labor from them (ie 1:35).
The worst part shows up in Judges 2:10 when after those that had seen God’s great hand had passed “… there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD,” What a sad statement!
I want to see God’s works in my lifetime, but I want my children to see Him great in their time too! Let us be sure to clear the way, and teach the truth so that those to come may know HIM. -PB