3 These are the nations the Lord left to test^(A) all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan

²¹ I will no longer drive out^(A) before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. ²² I will use them to test^(B) Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.”

²² The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little.^(A) You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.

¹⁰ After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.^(A)

Suffering for Being a Christian

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you^(A) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness^(A) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire^(B)—may result in praise, glory and honor^(C) when Jesus Christ is revealed.^(D)

²⁴ But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.