(Thomas Reade, "Christian Meditations")

"They could not drive out the Canaanites
 who continued to live there." Joshua 17:12

Sin is ever abhorrent to a holy God, and
distressing to a renewed mind. Can the
believer, then, derive any benefit from the
sin which he hates, and against which he
hourly combats?

These Canaanites in the land, though grievous
to the spirit of a true Israelite, as thorns are to
his flesh, may be overruled by Infinite Love to
teach him many lessons.

These Canaanites remind him of his former
condition, of the rock from where he was hewn,
and of the hole of the pit from where he was
dug; of his natural depravity, wretchedness,
and misery, that so, he may loathe himself in
his own sight.

These Canaanites constrain him to acknowledge
the grace of God in saving him, when he had nothing
to expect but fiery indignation and judgment without
mercy.

These Canaanites make him distrust him self,
through the constant experience of his own weakness
in resisting the world, the flesh, and the devil.

These Canaanites cause him to trust altogether
in the divine power of his Savior, from the repeated
victories which he obtains over indwelling sin, by
looking with a single eye to Jesus, the Captain of
his salvation.

These Canaanites bring into exercise the graces
of faith and patience, courage and self denial,
watchfulness and prayer. The weapons of his
warfare are not allowed to rust, having daily to
fight the good fight of faith.

These Canaanites make him value the blood
and righteousness of Christ, which rise in value,
in proportion to the true and saving knowledge
which he acquires of himself. Thus, the more he
is convinced of his sins and imperfections, the
more earnestly does he seek after a better
righteousness to justify him in the sight of God,
even the spotless righteousness of Jesus Christ.

These Canaanites make him long more ardently
for the rest which remains for the people of God;
for that pure world, where sorrow cannot enter,
where indwelling sin will never harass the soul,
but where he will forever behold his adorable
Redeemer, and be made like him, when he
shall see him as he is.

"They could not drive out the Canaanites
 who continued to live there." Joshua 17:12