Judges

Judges

The book of Judges continues the conquest after Joshua died and moves into the issues they faced. They took land and cities and overcame many difficulties. These would not just be the physical obstacles but sometimes even harder to wrestle with, the spiritual challenges were insanely difficult. The land of Canaan was littered with an unholy but attractive lifestyle that drew them in. On some levels it was more difficult than the military might needed to overtake the land for these temptations would draw them toward their hedonistic and selfish ways, relegating God to the back. They would compromise their faith over and over again.

Part of the issue was they had no clear cut leader after Joshua died. Almost immediately they began to lose their grip. By every count, Joshua was an amazing military leader but more importantly he was a leader so spiritually connected to God and His purposes. His dependence on Him inspired and challenged the people in faith. With him gone, they would be left to themselves. That is never a good thing.

For 340 years the Israelites went through being oppressed and then delivered in this new land. The stories you are about to read are of heroes. Men and women, 12 in all, whom God would raise up to deliver the Israelites. These were not perfect by any means. Included in the ranks of the 12 are an assassin, a sexually promiscuous man, a person who broke cultural standards and more. On some levels their stories are pretty raw and the book is surprising. But it shows how God can use people when they submit to Him in obedience. It also shows how there are consequences to our sin.

We are all incredibly broken people. More times than we want to admit we give into our own ways and desires. Operating out of our brokenness we hurt others, lead poorly and sometimes pay a long term price for the pain we inflict on others or our own disobedience. But through our submission to God He can and does not let our brokenness be the end. He is faithful even when we are not. He will use hardship, even by our own doing, to draw us back to Him.