09.30.09: Judges 1 -10

REAL heroes are hard to find these days. Modern research and the media have made the foibles and weaknesses of our leaders very apparent; we search in vain for men and women to emulate. The music, movie and sports industries produce a steady stream of "stars" who shoot to the top and then quickly fade away from view.
Judges is a book about heroes - 12 men and women who delivered Israel from its oppressors. These judges were not perfect; in fact they included an assassin, a sexually promiscuous man, and a person who broke all the laws of hospitality. But they were submissive to God, and God used them.

The book of Joshua tells a swift and thorough conquest of enemy armies and cities, while the book of Judges seems to suggest a more lengthy and gradual conquest. When the Israelites first entered into the Promised Land (Joshua 1-12), they united as one army to crush the inhabitants until they were too weak to retaliate. Then, after the land was divided among the 12 tribes (Joshua 13-24), each tribe was responsible for driving out the remaining enemy from its own territory. The book of Judges tells of their failure to do so.
Some tribes were more successful than others. Under Joshua, they all began strong, but soon most were sidetracked by fear, weariness, lack of discipline, or pursuit of their own interests. As a result, their faith began to fade away and "the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes" (17:6). In order for our faith to survive it must be practiced day by day. It must penetrate every aspect of our lives. Beware of starting our strong and then getting sidetracked from your real purpose-loving God and living for Him.

Pest control is a multi billion dollar national industry. Is this due to an irrational obsession with bugs? Not at all. Termites and carpenter ants can do serious damage to a home. Rats and many insects carry diseases. Bee stings can be life threatening to people who are allergic to them. Did the Israelites understand this? Their pests bring a different kind of threat than to house and health; this time, compassion and convenience go too far and its costs God's people dearly.
Tribe after tribe failed to drive the evil Canaanites from their land. Why didn't they follow through and completely obey God's commands?
1. They had been fighting for a long time and were tired. Although the goal was in sight, they lacked the discipline and energy to reach it. 2. They were afraid the enemy was too strong - the iron chariots seemed invincible. 3. After Joshua's death, power and authority were decentralized to the tribal leaders, and the tribes were no longer unified in purpose. 4. Spiritual decay had infected them from within. They thought they could handle the temptation and be more prosperous by doing business with the Canaanites.
We, too, often choose to tolerate sin rather than drive it from our lives. We may know what to do but just don't follow through. This result in a gradual deterioration of our relationship with God. In our battles, we may grow tired and want rest but we need more than a break from our work. We need to know that God loves us and has given us a purpose for life. Victory comes from living according to His purpose and from being willing to fully obey Him.
Don't coddle sin. Know that God has given you the means to do what he commands-whether you are tired, apathetic, confused or just lazy. Victory comes from pressing on to do God's will today. Drive out those pesky sins!

2:15,16. Despite Israel's disobedience, God showed His great mercy by raising up judges to save the people from their oppressors. Mercy has been defined as "not giving a person what he or she deserves." This is exactly what God did for Israel and what He does for us. Our disobedience demands judgement! But God shows mercy toward us by providing an escape from sin's penalty through Jesus Christ, who alone saves us from sin. When we pray for forgiveness, we are asking for what we do not deserve. Yet when we take this step and trust in Christ's saving work on our behalf, we can experience God's forgiveness.

We learn in chapter 1 that these enemy nations (3:1-4) were still in the land because the Israelites had failed to obey God and drive them out. Now God would allow the enemies to remain in order to "test" the Israelites; that is, to give them an opportunity to exercise faith and obedience. By now the younger generation that had not fought in the great battles of conquest was coming of age. It was their job to complete the conquest of the land. There were many obstacles yet to be overcome in their new homeland. How they would handle these obstacles would be a test of faith.
Perhaps God has left obstacles in your life - hostile people, difficult situations, baffling problems-to allow you to develop faith and obedience.

What provisions of emergencies have you made for your home? Syrup of ipecac, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, emergency phone numbers by the phone, a planned escape route in case of fire - sound familiar.
This time of the judges is full of emergencies and chaos, brought on by Eglon, king of Moah; Jabin, king of Canaan, the Midianites and the ever annoying Philistines. Do the Israelites learn anything from this chaos?
The Israelites had a habit of hitting rock bottom and staying there, they trying to dig out of the hole by themselves. In one case, they endured twenty years of being oppressed by the Canaanites before crying to God for help (4:3). You would think one such emergency would teach them, but it didn't. The formula the Israelites applied was this: When in deep trouble, call on God as a last resort.
God should be the first place we turn when we are facing struggles or dilemmas. How much suffering the Israelites could have avoided if they had turned to God right away!
We, too, often try to control our own lives without God's help. When struggles come our way, God wants us to come to him first, seeking His strength and guidance.
Turn to God first for help each day, not as a last resort. Then turn to others for help as God directs. About what problem or struggle should you talk to God right now?

The great missionary Hudson Taylor said, "All God's giants were weak people." Moses' weakness was his temper. It caused him to murder and Egyptian, strike the rock he was supposed to speak to, and break the tablets of the Ten Commandments. Yet God transformed Moses into "the humblest man on earth." Number 12:3. Gideon's weakness was low self-esteem and deep insecurities, but God transformed him into a "mighty man of valor." Judges 6:12. Abraham's weakness was fear. Not once, but twice, he claimed his wife was his sister to protect himself. But God transform Abraham, "the father of those who have faith." Romans 4:11. Impulsive, weak-willed Peter became a "rock." Matthew 16:18, the adulterer David became "a man after my own heart." Acts 13:22 and John, one of the arrogant "Sons of Thunder." because the "Apostle of Love." The lists could go on and on. "It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of... Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and all the prophets... their weakness was turned into strength." Hebrews 11:32-34. God specializes in turning weaknesses into strengths. He wants to take our greatest weakness and transform it.