Judges 2

Good Morning “Wise Ones Who Learn the Easy Way.”  Today we are in Judges 2.

“Being confident of this that He who began a good work in you (salvation) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6   He will mold and make us into what He wants us to be.  We can do this the easy way or the hard way.  

Judges 1 recounts a bit of Israel’s history, their obedience and their rebellion from human perspective.  Judges 2 does the same but from a divine perspective.  In fact we open with “The Angel of The Lord.”  This Angel is no angel at all but in fact another pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus.  Remember when we saw the “Angel of The Lord” back in Joshua 5.  He received Joshua’s worship - no angel would do that.  Joshua was told the place he was standing was Holy ground.  It was only Holy because of Gods presence, specifically the 2nd Person of The Trinity - Jesus.  

While Joshua was alive Israel honored their covenant, but after Joshua’s death and the deaths of the elders - “…another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.“ Judges‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬

Someone dropped the ball.  As Israel moved into the land and enjoyed all that it provided, as they lived in a time of blessing - they either failed to teach their children or the children rejected their teaching.  Either way the new generation moved into a time where they traded the ways of their ancestors for the ways of those they disobediently allowed to stay in the land.  

Not only did they allow pockets of Canaanites to remain, but they did NOT take down their alters.  God knew they would be easily corrupted - hence His command to drive them ALL out and destroy all the evil remnants.  They didn’t.  As a result the “Angel of The Lord” (Jesus), tells the nation that the Canaanites will be a trap to them.  He will not give them strength to win battles against them, instead because of their disobedience they will experience the consequences.  The “Judges” God raises up will provide temporary relief, lessened consequences, but Israel will betray these Judges as well.

Thus they enter a time in their history of cyclical rebellion, crying out, The Lord relents and delivers, then they rebel again.  They appear determined to learn lessons the hard way.

I’ve had students who have said to me, “Why can’t my parents, and everyone else just leave me alone and let me make my own mistakes - that’s how I learn.”  That’s one of the most ridiculous statements / questions I’ve ever heard.  Mistakes come with bad consequences. God clearly gives us examples to learn from.  Are you someone that can learn from others mistakes, and Gods initial gentle correction, or… someone who has to learn the hard way?  

Love you all!  Dig in!  Learn easy!