Judges 1:22-2:5
"'What is this you have done?'" (Judges 2:2). This was the key verse for me. It was piercing and really drove home the disobedient hearts and attitudes of the Israelites at this time. Verse after verse in Judges 1:22-2:5 laying out and describing disregard, disrespect and disobedience for God and His commands. Heartbreaking really, but, definitely a passage we need to read and consider because, as hard as it might be to admit, we think, act and respond like those Israelites all too often.
Take a couple of minutes and read through Judges 1:22-2:5 again. As you read, focus on what these verses reveal about disobedience as it pertains to us and our lives. Then, consider what they show us about God and His perspective and handling of disobedience. What did you find? Tami W.
God is loving but also just. He asked the Israelites to do what He asked for their own good. Then time and time again throughout the passage we see that they didn't obey. God then announced that the people whom they didn't drive out would be thorns in the Israelites sides. God gave them directions, and then a punishment because they didn't obey. God's rules are designed to give us freedom and safety, but we often disregard them and try to do things on our own. I'm thankful that God gives me boundaries and instructions for my own good, and then disciplines me, as a gracious and loving Father, when I get off track.
This message makes me think of our own sociality, specially verse 2:3 "I will not drive them out before you; but they will become as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you". It is not a punishment from God, it is the consequences that will eventally lead to.
I've made more marches to the "Spiritual Woodshed" than I can count! I'm glad that the older I get the less trips I must make. I find myself many times in the Bible, especially in the Proverbs where I am identified as the: fool. These poor ol' Israelites! "Thorns in your sides?! Forever?!" GOD is just some would say; then, how much more do we deserve? THANK GOD FOR JESUS!!! I do not like making mistakes (who does?) or their repercussions. With me, I learn from my mistakes and GOD deals with me justly. I know GOD to be patient, gentle, kind, and loving; simply the best! I also know GOD to be mightier and more terrifying than anything my sci-fi mind could ever conjure up. Hence, now when GOD speaks, I listen, and I do. Because I know HIM, not completely, for that is a life-long endeavor. A joyous one I might add. I thank Jesus every day for saving me from GOD'S all deserving wrath and punishment. I realize that I should be saying thanks for not destroying "us" because we're all in this boat together, amen? Speaking of boats, where are you at? Hanging cool, calm and corrective with Jesus, or scared out of your wits with the disciples? Via con Dios amigos!
Obedience leads to God's blessings...disobedience leads elsewhere and, as Cecilia already stated, there are consequences...consequences we cannot forsee, which leads us back to Mrs. G's statement about God asking us to follow His Law for our own good.
I am an old human and a babe in Christ, not because I just recieved Jesus but because I was side tracked so many times in my early walk With him. I identify with the Israelites and there disobedience, often in my early years when I chose to live in the world instead of in My Lord. I have suffered from this and the devil uses those indisgretions as thorns in my side you might say. Fortunatly like in Judges 2:4 We can chose to recognize our shortcommings and lift up our weeping voices to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is the Sacrifice for all our sinful indisgretions. The consequences remain but the Joy that floods our soul when we enter into a deeper relationship with Our Lord is sustaining for all time! Love you My Lord Jesus!
I'd like to know why their parents or grandparents did not teach their children/grandchildren about their history; complacency?
belief that nothing would change (as God's chosen people?). Or what?
I think most of us feel as if we are " getting away with something" at times When we are doing things we know we should not. Until somebody brings it to our attention that they know what we've done, then the shame and embarasment come.