The Incomplete Conquest refers to the period in Israel's history following the initial victories in the Promised Land under Joshua's leadership, as recorded in the Book of Joshua and the early chapters of Judges. Despite God's command to fully possess the land and drive out its inhabitants, the Israelites failed to complete this task, leading to significant consequences for their spiritual and national life.

Biblical Background

After the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River and the fall of Jericho, the Israelites, under Joshua's command, began the conquest of Canaan. God had promised the land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He commanded the Israelites to utterly destroy the Canaanite nations due to their abominable practices and idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:1-5). The initial campaigns were marked by significant victories, such as the defeat of the southern and northern coalitions (Joshua 10-11).

However, the task of fully driving out the inhabitants was not completed. Joshua 13:1 notes, "Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the LORD said to him, 'You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed.'" The land was divided among the tribes, but many areas remained under Canaanite control.

Tribal Failures

The Book of Judges details the failures of the individual tribes to fully conquer their allotted territories. Judges 1:27-36 lists several tribes, including Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali, who did not drive out the Canaanites but instead subjected them to forced labor. This disobedience was contrary to God's command and led to the Israelites living among the Canaanites, adopting their practices, and worshiping their gods.

Spiritual and National Consequences

The incomplete conquest had profound spiritual implications for Israel. Judges 2:1-3 records the Angel of the LORD's rebuke: "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I had promised your fathers. I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you, and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.' Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done?"

The Israelites' failure to fully obey God led to cycles of sin, oppression, and deliverance throughout the period of the Judges. The presence of Canaanite peoples and their idolatrous practices became a snare to Israel, leading them away from exclusive worship of Yahweh. Judges 2:11-13 states, "And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt."

Theological Implications

The Incomplete Conquest serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands. It highlights the dangers of compromise and the consequences of failing to fully trust and follow God's directives. The narrative underscores the need for faithfulness and the perils of allowing worldly influences to coexist with the people of God.

The Incomplete Conquest also foreshadows the need for a perfect and complete deliverance, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. While Israel's earthly conquest was incomplete, the spiritual conquest over sin and death is fully realized through Christ's victory on the cross and His resurrection.