Judges 2:11-19 The book of Judges repeats a cyclical theme throughout. First, the people forget and forsake God for idols. Then, God withdraws His protection, and oppressors take advantage. Amidst great suffering, the people cry out for deliverance. So, God raises up a judge to rescue the people. While that leader lives, the people remain faithful, but then they once again forget and forsake God. Around and around we go with generation after generation repeating the same pattern.
Judges 3:15 God raised up Ehud to deliver the people from King Eglon of Moab. (On his left-handedness, see Judges 20:15-16; 1 Chronicles 12:2.)
Judges 3:19-21 Ehud courageously used his left-handedness to assassinate the king and bring relief to God’s people.
Judges 3:31 Shamgar was a farmer with an ox goad, but God worked through him to save Israel from the Philistines.
Judges 4:4-9 Deborah was a judge and a prophetess who brought a word of the LORD to Barak to attack Jabin, king of Canaan.
Judges 4:13-15 Barak fought against Jabin’s commander, Sisera, and his 900 iron chariots and routed them. Sisera escaped on foot, but met his demise at the hands of a woman, Jael, who lulled him to sleep and hammered a tent peg through his skull.
Judges 6:1-6 Once again, Israel turned away from God and faced the consequences. The Midianites scraped Israel clean of food, making the people hide their food in caves.
Judges 6:12-16 God finds a scared farmer named Gideon and sends an angel with the words, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” After working with him extensively to build his faith, God brought a huge victory through Gideon, defeating 135,000 Midianites with 300 Israelites.
Psalm 18:2-6 The LORD is our rock, fortress, and deliverer! Let us call upon Him and cry out for deliverance in our own time. Let us put our trust in Him.
Judges 9:52-54 Gideon’s son, Abimelech, was a power-hungry, fratricidal tyrant. He attacked other Israelites that didn’t accept his legitimacy until an unnamed woman dropped part of her bread maker on his head. (See also 2 Samuel 11:20-21.)
2 Chronicles 16:9 Likewise, Jephthah and Samson were outcasts through whom God brought sensational deliverance for His people. His eyes are running to and fro, looking for people to work with-those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. Is your heart blameless toward Him?
God delights to use unqualified people in the hardest times to accomplish His greatest work. He is our deliverer. Let us look to Him for our deliverance now.
0 Comments