A Pattern Repeated Throughout History

My Bible reading plan currently has me in the book of Judges. It only took a few chapters into the book to see a scary pattern developing in the lives of the young nation of Israel. But not only is that pattern seen in the history of Israel, it's seen in the history of the world. Here is the basic pattern:




SIN ====> JUDGEMENT ====> REPENTANCE====> DELIVERANCE 




SIN

Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the Lord to anger. So they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. ~Judges 2:11-13 (NASB) 




God's very first command to the Hebrew people was that of having no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3), but this is exactly what they did by forsaking God and serving Baal and the Ashtaroth. As the Hebrew people became agricultural, they were tempted to serve these gods in addition to the LORD, to make sure that they would have fertile crops.



Before we bash them too hard, we need to take a quick look in the mirror. We do the same thing today! We want that fire insurance that salvation provides, but we want it on our own terms. The god of self is prevalent in our society. 




JUDGEMENT 

The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. ~Judges 2:14-15 (NASB) 




If there's any position we DON'T want to be in, it's where the LORD is against us! Notice that He removed their hedge of protection so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Their response was understandably one of distress!




REPENTANCE  

One good thing comes from being in opposition to God and the resulting distress, and that is repentance. In my estimation, the word "repent" has been handed a bad reputation. Repenting is good; it's spiritually healthy! It's simply turning away from destructive behavior and back to the LORD.




DELIVERANCE  

Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them. ~Judges 2:16 (NASB) 




I've heard some people question where the God of grace we find in the New Testament is located in the Old Testament. Here's the answer. God didn't owe these people anything. They were the ones who broke the covenant. They were the ones who chased after other gods who really weren't gods at all! He could've easily wiped them off the planet and started all over. But He didn't. He gave them another chance. Unfortunately, if you continue to read in the book of Judges, you see that the Israelites soon repeated the scary pattern.




What's even scarier is what started it all. Let's go back to the beginning of the above story.




All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. ~Judges 2:10 (NASB)




APPLICATION  

Folks, we are losing a lot of the newest generation for a plethora of reasons, including disparity between what we say we believe and our actions, a lack of love among the family of God, and just plain old apathy and complacency. 




The judgment we are seeing upon our country is our fault, not the fault of politicians and businessmen. If we truly want to see change in our country, we MUST turn back to God and do our best to influence the younger generations for God's Kingdom. Only then will we see the deliverance of God.




Dear Jesus, How we fall down and prostrate ourselves in humility, confessing that we've been enticed and drawn away by foreign "gods" that really aren't gods at all. We're guilty of putting ourselves and our agendas before You. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to do better. We fervently intercede on behalf of the younger generations--our sons and daughters--that they would see You for who You truly are, and not the weak, wimpy feel-good God we've portrayed to them. Lord, we also pray for those of the younger generations who have stayed true to You. Thank You for them. Help them to influence their generation for Your Kingdom. Thank You for Your unmerited love and grace. Amen.