What effect did the Canaanite people have on Israel after they were left alive?
The Israelites failed to destroy the Canaanites as God instructed. They grew soft-hearted, used them as servants, and left them alive. Just as God had promised, the Canaanites influenced Israel toward idolatry, drawing the nation into pagan worship despite Jehovah's miraculous presence among them.
Les explains that during the period of the Judges, Israel occupied Canaan but did not destroy the Canaanite people as God had instructed. They became soft-hearted and reasoned they could use these people for servants, so they left off destroying them. Exactly as God promised, the Canaanites' effect was to take Israel right into idolatry. Les notes this is hard to comprehend because Israel had the manifestation and miracle-working power of Jehovah God in their midst, yet they turned to pagan idols. The history of Israel through those 300 to 400 years of Judges became a roller coaster: they would reach a spiritual height under a good judge, a ruler under God in a God-centered government.