JUDGES 10:1-10

MAY 10, 2008

 

GOD FREES YOU AND GIVES YOU THE CHOICE -- TO STAY FREE OR RETURN TO SLAVERY!

 

 1 After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. 2 He judged Israel twenty-three years; and he died and was buried in Shamir.

3 After him arose Jair, a Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years. 4 Now he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys; they also had thirty towns, which are called “Havoth Jair” to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5 And Jair died and was buried in Camon.

6 Then the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the people of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him. 7 So the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the people of Ammon. 8 From that year they harassed and oppressed the children of Israel for eighteen years—all the children of Israel who were on the other side of the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, in Gilead. 9 Moreover the people of Ammon crossed over the Jordan to fight against Judah also, against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed. 

10 And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!”    JUDGES 10:1-10  (NKJV)

When you study the Bible and come to a passage like the one for this Devotion, do you read the first few words and then skip some pages where you might read something other than who was the Judge or the King and what battles they fought and either won or lost?  Many people do.  I agree with you that it is hard to read and study something that seems to have no message for our life today.  However, as hard as it might be, there is a good chance that when we skip over pages we are missing some strong truth or teaching that God wants us to have.  I will be the first to admit that there are some things in the Bible that I have no idea why they are there and what meaning they have for my life.  I do, know that someday, now or in Heaven, all of these hidden truths and teachings will be revealed to me.

 

Just because we can’t understand something, it is not a reason to skip over it.  In fact, it may be a good reason to read the passages more often and to pray that the message might be revealed to you and that you can find meaning for your life today.

 

Here are a few thoughts on these verses from Judges 10.  The first 4 verses say a few words about the two Judges who followed Abimelech.  If you go back and read Chapter 9, you will see how under Abimelech, the Children of Israel turned against God and were soon in slavery to their enemies after some battles.

 

In verse 5 we  are told that after the death of the second Judge, the people once again turned against God and served the false gods.  Did you recognize some of the names of those false gods or the people who were the victors over the people of Israel? After the 45 years of Freedom that was theirs after the slavery during the time of Abimelech, the Children of Israel chose to go back to slavery by turning against God. From here through verse 9 we read of the anger of God, and in verse 10 we hear the Children of Israel calling out for forgiveness.

 

You are going to have to get your Bible and read on if you want to know how God responded to their plea.  Maybe you should read it even if you are not curious.

 

Here is what I suggest these verses have to say to us and our lives today:   While battles rage throughout our world, there are other battles that we are fighting.  Like the repeated wars of the Children of Israel, these battles have also been fought over and over. As we think of some of these, let us just remember that the Children of Israel, while being faithful followers of God, saw some things in the lives of other peoples that appealed to them but were against the laws of God.

 

Foreclosures have been filed at increasingly high numbers and have had an effect on people of all economic levels. This is not a new disaster. It has been repeated over and over again.  In the old Western movies, often times the villain was the evil businessman who would go to all extremes to take property away from a struggling land owner.  In the Movie "IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE,” foreclosure is the villain.  In the Depression of the 30’s many farmers lost their land and people in towns lost their homes and businesses.  Those were difficult times for the ones who lost and it took years for many of them to overcome and be free again.  Some never did.  Like the Children of Israel and their captivity, over the years people have been captive by the lure of better things, and in seeking more than they could afford, they lost it all.  

 

Time after time, the Children of Israel wandered away from God into captivity.  Each time they came back to Him and were free, they were free to continue in freedom or to return to slavery.  Time after time, many people today are in captivity to high interest loans, high gas prices, alcohol, drugs, power, the good life, self gratification and on and on. We don’t have to be captive; we can turn to God and ask Him to help us to be free.

 

Just remember that when God frees you from any kind of captivity, he does not promise to keep you from going back to the same captivity.  That's up to you, as when God frees you, He gives you the choice to remain free or to return to captivity.

WE PRAY:  LORD, JESUS I come to You because only in You can I be free from the many things that hold me captive in my life.  You shed Your Blood and paid the only price that could redeem me.  Lord, I also pray that when you help me to be free that You would send the Holy Spirit upon me that I might have the guidance and strength that I need to remain free.  AMEN