Judges 10:1-18
After Abimelech exits the scene, Tola and Jair judge Israel back-to-back for a total of 45 years. But, as soon as Jair dies, and Israel is without a judge, the people immediately turn away from God. "The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (Judges 10:6). So God "sells" the Israelites into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites and the people are severely oppressed.
Now what I read next, totally grabbed me. Get this, the Israelites were oppressed for 18 years, before they cried out to God--18 years! What is up with that?!? And it's not until God refuses to come to their immediate rescue and reminds them of their rebellious hearts that they "put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD" (vs. 16). This passage was an eye opener and highlighted for me just how important it is that I keep a short account with the Lord.
So how did this passage impact you? What did the Israelites show you about our rebellious hearts and our propensity to go after foreign gods? Tami W.
I agree with continuing to talking to God and Him being in our life on a daily basis. That is so important. I think it is so much more important than we think. God is our everything and our all. I have to say, I am very persuaded by others around me. I want God to be a part of everything that I do. I want to be thinking about God in the things I do. In small and in big. I know God gives us free will, but God is very important to me and I trust Him, and I want to ask for His help and guidance in my everyday life. Some people don't get or understand why some people go to God and pray about many things, before making a decision. God is just that important to me, for me to pray about things in my life, and we ought to be going to God.
It's funny how quickly I lag behind and grow weary in following God, but how long it sometimes takes to get right with God. A lack of faith in the promised of God is all it takes and off we wander. I am always encouraged though to know that it's not God that puts the distance between us, it's me. May the Lord give us hearts to love Him more truly as we ought.
God told us we should love the Lord with all thine heart mind and soul and we should put no other God before . That was the reason he dealt with them so harsh, they had worshipped false god instead of him.And my God says hes a jealous God. so therefore we should put him and also let him be a part of everything we do and say.for me personally i put God in everything i do, before i do anything i pray and ask him, 'IS THIS YOUR WAY LORD? as christians we should at all times lift him up because he is indeed worthy!
I agree it's funny how we find comfort it our Lord and how we are so quick to turn away when we think we don't need Him until the next disaster occurs. I know I lose my way at times because I feel I'm too busy being a full time student and single parent. When this happens I can always feel the difference and know that I have to return to seeking God on a daily basis in every decision I make. It's a tough path to follow but it's the right path. We need our Lord, our Father, especially now in the current state of the world and our country. This story hits way to close to home right now and I believe we need God more than ever.
I don't believe Israel was faithful to God for 45 yrs under judges then one day turned away from God. I believe separation from God is a gradual process that occurs in the midst of self delusional rightousness in God, hence it took 18 yrs to call upon the God they thought was with them the whole time
Here I come again with more questions; hopefully I will get some answers.
a) If the Israelites started to worship other gods, god sells them to some enemies, does that mean god is controlling us, and threatening us so we worship him?
b) God is the god of everybody; he created us all, if so, why he didn’t sell the other people to some enemies, so they will worship him as well?
c) Later, he helps them to KILL their enemies, again, aren’t we all sons of god, and we shall not kill?
For your comments and replies, I thank you all.
Happy free thoughts
Tough questions, Porfirio M.---Did you listen to today's Back to the Bible radio broadcast? The title is "Trying to Hustle God" and in the message Dr. Woodrow Kroll speaks to the character of God, and mentions the difference in the way that God deals with people today vs. the time when the Book of Judges was written. God's character is unchanging, but the way in which He deals with people can change. I believe that understanding the true character of God will answer your questions, and that any short answer that I or anyone else could give you would come up lacking. God reveals His character to us through His Word and his consistent action, both past and present, and those who sincerely seek to discover it will find it.
I do see the importance of us staying in touch with the Lord.
I have only one suggestion regarding the questions from 'Porfirio': God is not controlling nor manipulative - instead He is full of grace and mercy; He gives us all the freedom to fail (see Luke 15:11-16; Hebrews 4:15-16). I dont know how much this will answer your questions; however, He is indeed a true, awesome, loving and caring God. One Who we can never comprehend with our carnal minds. God bless you.
The passage reminds me of how we are as people who claim to serve the Living God. God has given us all free-will to choose to serve Him and live our lives. If we like the Israelites would have allowed the Lord to be our LORD, and taken responsibility for our actions/sins repenting of and confessing them to God so our relationship is close, we would find ourselves less in the position where we easily fall away. The Israelites always "fell apart" when they did not have some leader keeping them in check. This suggests that there was not a 'real' personal relationship. We have to keep our relationship real with Him, so that when we fall we quickly get back in relationship and do not proudly wait for 18 years or more to call to Him for help.
I appreciate your answers; you are more than kind.
I guess it’s really up to oneself to receive the answers. Makes sense, because I thought I was receiving the wrong answer from god, but now I understand what he wants me to do.
Thank you.
We will truly do well when we 'dwell' close to God's throne of grace. We all want the better things to live.., and a better life . We can hear better, see better , understand better the closer we are to eternal values...then even when we stray we can more quickly receive mercy
Porfirio,
See my comments after your questions. (Quotation of verses is taken from the NKJV.)
a) If the Israelites started to worship other gods, god sells them to some enemies, does that mean god is controlling us, and threatening us so we worship him?
No, God wants us to serve Him because we love Him. He gave Adam and Eve the choice to go their own way or God's way. Genesis 3:6 tells us of their choice: "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate." And Romans 5:12 tells us of the consequence: "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned." So the bottom line is: we are hopelessly bound in sin and that's why we need to trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior for only He died to pay our penalty and obtain for us a pardon.
b) God is the god of everybody; he created us all, if so, why he didn't sell the other people to some enemies, so they will worship him as well?
This is a question the Bible doesn't answer. But it does indicate He's the potter and we're the clay. Jeremiah 18:6 says, "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!" God is sovereign, but He is also completely loving and just.
c) Later, he helps them to KILL their enemies, again, aren't we all sons of god, and we shall not kill?
Actually the word in Exodus 20:13 has the meaning of "murder." Governments have been given the power by God to take a life (see Romans 13:1, 4), but not individuals. But you are correct in that we should not go around killing people. However, we are not "all sons of God" in the sense you mentioned. The Pharisees were steeped in the Jewish tradition with all of its ceremonies and they thought God was their Father. However, the Lord Jesus Christ said to some of them: "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8:44).
I hope my comments have been of help.
Harold B.
P4 Correspondent