Year of the Bible: Part Four of Twelve عينة

An Ugly Cycle Begins.

Before Israel had a king, and after the death of Joshua, God appointed judges to govern them and remind them how they should live with God in the promised land.

The author of Judges writes of what's to come for the Israelites shortly, writing about the downward spiral of the Israelites and how they became increasingly more corrupt under their terrible leaders and the influence of the nations that surrounded them.

The cycle the author describes looks like this:
• The people sin
• God allows them to be oppressed by their enemies
• The people repent
• God raises a deliver [judge]
• The people enjoy peace
• They repeat the cycle

Because the people did not obey God to drive all the inhabitants out of the land, they suffered consequences for generations. They took God's instruction lightly and became friends with people who went so far as to sacrifice their newborn babies to a demon, learning their ways.

Prophetically, this book looks forward to the coming seed of the woman. This deliverer would come and crush the head of the serpent, putting an end to evil forever.

Question: Do you adapt and compromise your values to fit in with the surrounding worldly culture?

Prayer Focus: Where you notice areas of compromise, talk to God about them. Repent [change the way you think, with God's grace] about these areas and invite God to teach you a new way of thinking and living. I

Go Deeper: We must remain distinct and set apart for God [Holy] in this culture that has forgotten God. They need a reminder of what God is like, and that reminder will come through you. After all, If you don't share and show Christ's love to those around you, who will? God has appointments for you today. Will you blend in or stand out?