After Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt Joshua continued his job and settled them into the land of Palestine. However, not all the original people of the land were spelled out. Some of them still lived there with the Israelites v.21-23. They became the threat to Israelite during the time of the book of Judges. The Bible called them "raiders who plundered them v.14b." They made the life of the Israelites very miserable. Also they have "their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist v.14c." We also have enemies today in USA and we can not resist them. Let's face it. We cannot resist the terrorists. I do not know if this is the way that God punish us just like He punished the people in Judges. However, we can certainly reflect on what we have done as a nation.
What have Israelites done that they deserved this? "They knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel v.10" Which means they no longer serve the Lord v.7 but serve the idols v.11, 17. What's wrong about changing the object of worship? Because they have a contract with God; a covenant that they have made with God v. 20. When their ancestors came out of Egypt they made this covenant with God (Exo. 20), however, when they died they did not teach their children about it v.10. That's why when they died no one serve the Lord any more. Christianity plays an important role in the foundation of this country but what have the previous generations done to their children? Do their children now follow God or other idols?
Finally, when men come to God just for the relief from the calamity of life and do not have real repentance they will not stay with God when the trouble is gone. When the judge dies they go back to their sinful way v.18-19. Do we just want to have our troubles taken away when we come to accept God and then we quickly forget about God when things go smoothly? We probably think God is only a trouble-taken-away device.
What have Israelites done that they deserved this? "They knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel v.10" Which means they no longer serve the Lord v.7 but serve the idols v.11, 17. What's wrong about changing the object of worship? Because they have a contract with God; a covenant that they have made with God v. 20. When their ancestors came out of Egypt they made this covenant with God (Exo. 20), however, when they died they did not teach their children about it v.10. That's why when they died no one serve the Lord any more. Christianity plays an important role in the foundation of this country but what have the previous generations done to their children? Do their children now follow God or other idols?
Finally, when men come to God just for the relief from the calamity of life and do not have real repentance they will not stay with God when the trouble is gone. When the judge dies they go back to their sinful way v.18-19. Do we just want to have our troubles taken away when we come to accept God and then we quickly forget about God when things go smoothly? We probably think God is only a trouble-taken-away device.
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