Judges 2:10-19 (The Message)
10 Eventually that entire generation died and was buried. Then another generation grew up that didn't know anything of God or the work he had done for Israel.
11-15 The People of Israel did evil in God's sight: they served Baal-gods; they deserted God, the God of their parents who had led them out of Egypt; they took up with other gods, gods of the peoples around them. They actually worshiped them! And oh, how they angered God as they worshiped god Baal and goddess Astarte! God's anger was hot against Israel: He handed them off to plunderers who stripped them; he sold them cheap to enemies on all sides. They were helpless before their enemies. Every time they walked out the door God was with them—but for evil, just as God had said, just as he had sworn he would do. They were in a bad way.
16-17 But then God raised up judges who saved them from their plunderers. But they wouldn't listen to their judges; they prostituted themselves to other gods—worshiped them! They lost no time leaving the road walked by their parents, the road of obedience to God's commands. They refused to have anything to do with it.
18-19 When God was setting up judges for them, he would be right there with the judge: He would save them from their enemies' oppression as long as the judge was alive, for God was moved to compassion when he heard their groaning because of those who afflicted and beat them. But when the judge died, the people went right back to their old ways—but even worse than their parents!—running after other gods, serving and worshiping them. Stubborn as mules, they didn't drop a single evil practice.
Mike's Thoughts:
As you read this and other passages, remember that this is history, and is about God. The purpose of the Old Testament isn't to learn how we should live now and what we should do now. These people lived under a different law. If anything, this should help us to appreciate the grace God give us and how he responds to us now. Hang in there as you read this passage and don't be distracted by things that don't make sense to your 2009 mindset. Be patient and eventually you will see this all unfold as a part of God's story.
In this passage you see God's people treat him like they have done before and will do again - they leave him. But you will also see God bring the people back to him. We have already seen him do this, and will see him do it time and time again when the people leave him. This is the story of the Old Testament and the New Testament and of our lives. God is in search of us. If you take nothing else away from your reading of the bible, remember this message: God is passionately pursuing us. He created us and he wants to be with us. Like any good creator he loves his creation and wants us to thrive.
Prayer:
God, you are good, all knowing, and all powerful. Thanks that we can experience your grace and love for us. Thanks for how you have shown us who you are through your word. Thanks that when we don't understand everything around us, we can rest assured that in some way you are calling us to be with you. Help us to believe that, and to live that out. Help us to evaluate our lives on a daily basis, constantly remembering that our lives are about you.
--amen
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