Judges 10:6a Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines….
Just yesterday I overheard a conversation about cleaning up and cleaning out, something I desperately need to do in my own home. The comment was along the lines that for the process to really work, really stick, you have to be ready to let things go. If you aren’t ready, even if you purge the stuff, you’ll just replace it with more stuff.
Judges 10:6b-8 …And because the Israelites forsook the LORD and no longer served Him, He became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, who that year shattered and crushed them.
I was reminded of that exchange when I read today’s scripture. God loves the Israelites. They are calling out to Him (because they have turned away from Him and made a mess of things again). God wants to help them but knows they are not truly turning back to Him with their whole hearts…yet. He knows if He rescues them right now, they will just fill their lives with more stuff because they aren’t ready. So He gives them over to their desires (other gods) so they can realize on their own their true, deep need for Him.
Judges 10:14 “Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You are a loving parent who wants what is best for Your children, and that sometimes that means pain in the short term for greater good in the long term. Draw us closer, Lord. Help us to turn our hearts to You. Always. Amen.
Judges 10:15 But the Israelites said to the LORD, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever You think best, but please rescue us now.”
Have a blessed day.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.