Judges 2:18-23
And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

There is always an option. Israel had not fully obeyed God in driving out the occupants of the promised land, and their idols and false gods had corrupted the people of Israel, as God had said they would. They forsook God and His ways in the generation after Joshua died, and this cycle continued for generations to come. So God leaves those people among them to prove Israel, to give them the option so that they could make a willful decision of which gods they would follow and who they would worship. It was a way for God to know their true hearts.

Faith in God is a choice. Joshua had challenged the people to choose who they would serve, but it is not a one-time decision. It is something we have to choose every day, multiple times a day, even, as situations come up and challenges come along and needs arise and, yes, even as other options present themselves to us. God did all He could to give Israel an opportunity to be successful in obeying Him, and at times, it seems they did all they could to disobey and forsake Him.

What about us? What choice are we making? The world presents many options of things—people, philosophies, ideas, religions, lifestyles, et cetera—to which we can devote ourselves that can often seem very enticing. And God is there calling us to follow Him. Will we allow ourselves to be drawn away to those lesser things, or will we remain faithful to the one true God and prove that our hearts are devoted to Him above all others?