Today I read Judges 2, in which the Israelites faced hardships and lost to their enemies because of Israel’s disobedience. The Lord then raised up judges out of compassion for the Israelites. Today I considered that sometimes we have problems because we let the enemy in when we should instead be like Jesus showing the way to God through knowledge, wisdom, and miracles.
Disobedience, Punishment, and God’s Judges
The Israelites let the enemy nations and false gods in (Judges 2:1-23). God’s angel told the Israelites for their disobedience in not getting rid of the inhabitants altars and making agreements with the inhabitants of the land, the Israelites will lose battles and live with the inhabitants causing them problems. Joshua and his generation died. Another generation came that did not know God and served other gods like Balim and Ashtarof. God was angry and gave the Israelites to spoilers, sold them, and was against them. God heard their groanings and gave them judges to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. God was with the judges. After each judge died, the people went back to worshiping their false gods so God did not drive the enemy nations out of the land.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
God had reasons for His rules about tearing down the altars for the false gods and not living around those that do not love the Lord. God knew these things would lead to the Israelites being influenced to worship false gods. The Israelites left the enemy in the land and made agreements with them, in essence letting the enemy into their lives. We can also let the enemy into our lives by our actions.
How can you guard against allowing the enemy into your life?
Some people may say, well we have to be around the enemy to save them. This is not exactly how it worked. We have to use Jesus as our example. Jesus did interact with the enemy, but Jesus never lived with the enemy. Jesus’ knowledge, wisdom, and miracles performed in various locations drew people to him and led people to testify about him. Jesus’ life showed people to way to God through Jesus’ words and actions.
How can you grow to behave more like Jesus?