Judges 1-3: Trial & Error
Hiiiiiiii!
I have been parked on a draft for four months simply because I had fallen out of love with the study my posts were following. So, let’s try again!
I want to pick up where I left off in the Bible since I always intended to read through it chronologically and break down the themes and symbolism with anyone interested in furthering their understanding. I want to drop the formalities, slow down, and approach God’s word as we are, where we are.
So, moving forward, I plan to present a few chapters in each post and highlight where, when, and how I see God in its content.
1: Judah and the Canaanites
After Joshua's passing, the Lord appointed Judah as the leader of the Israelites. Judah and his brother, Simeon, took on the Canaanites that remained in their settlements.
Chapter 1 retells the predicament the Israelites were in: the Canaanites, a sinful people (Deuteronomy 7:2-4) were not driven out of this land that housed God's chosen people.
2: Sin and Judgement
The angel of the Lord returned and questioned the Israelites for their decision to live among such a contrasting nation. The angel stated that the Canaanites would not be cleared from their land for them, but instead, the Israelites would reap what they had sown.
"I will not drive out these people before you. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods willl be a trap for you" (2:3).
The Israelites were distraught and sobbed.
Joshua's generation knew the Lord and witnessed His works on their behalf, but "after them, another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works He had done for Israel" (2:10). The Israelites began to "do what is evil in the Lord's sight" by turning from God to worship Baal and the Ashtoreths (2:11-13).
As warned, God was not happy with the nation of Israel. As promised, their abandonment led to tangible loss, defeat, enslavement, disaster, and suffering. However, God redeems. He enacted judges to help steer His people in the right direction.
"Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them" (2:18).
God FELT BAD for wayward sinners!
Unfortunately, this generation did not listen to the judges and returned to their stubbornness.
3: Israel is Tested
Men of Israel married the daughters of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, multiplied, and worshiped their gods.
"The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord's sight" (3:7, CSB).
The Israelites were imprisoned and cried out to God, and God relented. The first judge, Othniel, was raised as the Israelites' deliverer. Verse 10 says the Spirit of the Lord was upon Othniel as he led the nation to victory over their captors. Their land experienced peace for forty years until Othniel died.
Again, "the Israelites did what was evil in the Lord's sight" (3:12). When the Israelites were overtaken and controlled by the King of Moab (Eglon) for eighteen years, they cried out to God. The Lord presented the next judge, Ehud. The author described the action-packed encounter with Eglon, "an extremely fat man," just before Ehud killed him with a sword. He escaped and ran to announce the great news. Ehud said, "Follow me, because the Lord has handed over your enemies" (3:28). The Israelites defeated thousands of Moabites that day. The following eighty years were peaceful for the Israelites under Ehud.
After Ehud came Shamgar. Shamgar's leadership was not recorded like the other judges.
So far, Judges has likened the Israelites to doing what was "evil in the Lord's sight" four times in the first three chapters. The consequence was always the same: they became distressed. Going against the grain of God introduces burdensome frustrations and challenges. Verse 7 in Chapter 3 stated that when the Israelites "forgot about the Lord their God," they would then turn to serve wayward idols and self-destructive practices. But, God would present a leader to redirect them!
This narrative is extremely relatable because I find myself getting distracted by hectic schedules and semi-stressful responsibilities, or obsessing over the allure of a blessing without putting in the hard work, patience, and faith required to receive it. I can quickly feel the repercussions of stepping away from God—frustration, irritability, insecurity, impatience, and the dreaded woe-is-me attitude. But, God! He waits for our return on the sideline, with His mighty playbook, ready to make a call that puts us back in a game where the victory is ours.
Psalm 23: 1-6 (CSB), "The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; He leads me along the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Gratitude List:
Unlocking the baby aisles in our favorite stores
Seeing others already love our baby
Weekly Costco dates with my husband
San Diego weather
Good health and easygoing prenatal appointments
Messy seafood boils
Baby flutters (even the bladder punches)
Slowing down to rest
Spotting pumpkin patch preparations and fall lawn decor
Entering the holiday season
Dixie’s food reviews (Hey, Dixie!)
Receiving merch from my favorite streamer (Go, Hollywood!)
Witnessing my husband turn dreams into reality
