City Life Starter

The Word

 18 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. 19 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. 20 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he said, “Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice, 21 I will no longer drive  out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, 22 in order to test Israel by them, whether they  will take care to walk in the way of the LORD as their fathers did, or not.” 23 So the LORD left those nations, not driving  them out quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua.

Judges 2:18-23 (ESV)

Reflection

It is very interesting when you look at the book of Judges and notice that God had a purpose for not driving out all the nations that were living around Israel. We know that from Joshua 2:2 that the reason for God leaving the nations and not fully driving them out was that the Israelites had made covenants with these inhabitants that they were not supposed to do. Why Joshua and the other elders of Israel did this we may not know. All we know is that God let these nations stay in order to test Israel’s faithfulness to Him. This they failed at many times as they sought after the Baal’s instead of God.

As Israel had no king, whenever the nations that resided around them began to plunder, kill, and subjugate the Israelites, they cried out to God. God would provide a “judge” to hold the people accountable and bring peace to the land, ending any oppression that the other nations caused.

You would think to yourself…if only the people would follow God, everything would’ve been okay. Well, maybe God needed to remind the Israelites who they belonged to and this was a way to do it. Deborah was a judge that took on this mantle and many more judges followed. The Israelites just wouldn’t learn their lesson and they came out worse than their fathers before them.

Then again, as we learned from Joshua last week, he knew that God is too holy and they{the Israelites) would fail miserably to follow Him. See Joshua 24:19. Following a perfect God perfectly, will result in a perfect failure.

Application

We may often wonder why God puts trials and hardships in our lives (see John 16:33). When I ponder on these things, I often think back on verses such as the ones above. God wants us to rely on Him because He is a holy God and He is a jealous God. He does not want us to go and serve any other god or idol that can take away the time we have with Him. These trials in our lives helps us to turn back to God when we so easily forget.

How does this relate to Deborah and leading with uncertainty? Simply put, leaders will have trials and hardships, and sometimes they are stuck having to lead people who are ignorant, stubborn, and always end up doing the wrong thing instead what is right. In the end, God will give grace and mercy to those whom He loves, leaders the strength to lead, people to partner with (Barak), and victory even though we do not know how.

Trust God in times of uncertainty where trials and hardships makes the future seem unclear. God wants you to rely on Him.

And yes, you will one day have to lead.

Prayer

Father, thank you for giving me trials and hardships that allow me to grow in faith and trust in You. I am far from perfect and only through your grace and the blood of Jesus, I can commune with you. I am forever grateful. Help me to me more like You. Sanctify me. In Jesus’ name, amen.