Year of the Bible: Part Five of Twelve Minta

Tested, Tortured, and Tenaciously Delivered

The book of Judges is certainly colorful, with stories that are both fascinating and disturbing. As you read through, remember two main ideas: First, God had called the Israelites to destroy the Canaanites so they wouldn’t corrupt His people, who were to be holy. The people disobeyed and were corrupted by the Canaanites and their false gods. Second, we read this phrase throughout the book, “There was no king in Israel, and the people did what was right in their own eyes.” When we do what is right in our own eyes rather than obeying God, we will reap trouble; Judges provides many examples of this.

The Israelites started following other gods, and the Lord was angry. The land He had brought them to was not fully conquered, and He left some of the neighboring people to test the Israelites. He wanted to see if they would be true to Him or betray Him and follow other gods. The Israelites betrayed God repeatedly: when the Canaanites conquered them, they would cry out to God, He would send a deliverer, and they would enjoy peace until they rebelled again.

In today’s reading, we see that Othniel, a relative of the spy Caleb, was led by the spirit of the Lord to deliver the people from Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram. They enjoyed 40 years of peace after Othniel’s battle to liberate them. However, the Israelites once again did evil in the Lord’s sight, and God gave King Eglon of Moab power over them for 18 years! When they had had enough, they cried out to God, and He sent Ehud to bring peace to the land.

Both of these accounts show us that God is long-suffering and always willing to step in when we cry to Him. God desired Israel to stay close to Him, enjoy relationship with Him, and be blessed by Him. Instead, they were enamored with what the Canaanites had more than they were with God. God sent Jesus to deliver us from the oppression of the culture and traditions around us. We are free if we embrace the gift of Jesus.

Question: How are you tempted to follow the ways of the world more than God's ways? How do you see Jesus being mirrored in Judges so far?

Prayer: Read or listen to the accounts of Judges 1-3 and ask God what He notices in your life that looks like the Israelites. Take time to ask for forgiveness, if needed, and pray for a heart that is set toward Jesus. We have a redeemer who has done it all. Take some time to thank Him today.