Judges 1-5

I really enjoy reading the Old Testament. Not only are there wonderful parallels between the nation of Israel and us as believers, but there are some of the craziest stories. I have been reading through Judges lately, and although I read most of these stories my freshman year of high school in Bible class, they never get old.

• The Israelites become so predictable. Their actions are summarized in Judges 2:18-19 - "Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways."
• God had/has an incredible love for His people. God was always moved to pity for the Israelites and always sent someone to save them. I think after the third time I would give up on the people and tell them to figure it out themselves because they obviously weren't learning from their mistakes. However, our God is not as easily frustrated by incompetency as I am, thank goodness. It doesn't mean we have the freedom to continue sinning (Romans 6:1-4), but it does mean that we don't have to live with the burden of our neediness.
• There are consequences for not following what God asks you to do. He commanded the Israelites to destroy every foreign influence, but the majority of the tribes did not drive away all of the pagans, and it was because of this the people of Israel continued to suffer. Judges 2:2-3 says, "And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars. But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you." I wonder how often the generations coming behind them cursed their ancestors for not obeying God in the first place.
• God has a sense of humor. I mean, come on. Have you never read the story of Ehud, the left-handed judge, slaying Eglon, a really fat king, in Judges 3:12-30?
• Barak was a sissy. He wouldn't go into battle without Deborah. As a woman, I appreciate a man acknowledging my ability to contribute alongside him, but I wouldn't want it to be at a point where he is useless or scared to face tough situations without me. He still needs to be the man.
• Jael was legit. The woman nailed a tent stake through a man's head - all the way through and into the ground! Please read the ultimate example of girl power in Judges 4.
• It took the Israelites a little too long to realize their need for God. The people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years. They served Eglon for eighteen years. They served the Canaanites for twenty years. Why did it take them so long to realize their need for God? Why did they allow themselves to stay in bondage for so many years when all they had to do was cry out to God for salvation?

Why do I allow myself to stay in bondage to various sins in my life when I know and have experienced the freedom Christ offers?

Romans 6:16 - "Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?"

Galatians 5:1 - "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."