Falling Out of God's Favor
The book of Judges can be very depressing to say the least. As I read the first few chapters this week, I noticed something which I think is significant for all believers. It has to do with the path that leads away from God. We all need to take care not to start down that road.
The first thing I noticed about the Israelites was that they failed to obey God completely once Joshua had died. They still took the land as God commanded, but they did not drive out the inhabitants. That was only partial obedience. I wonder how many times we are only partially obedient to God, and we think it will not be too bad. In fact, we might think we are just fine.
The incomplete obedience led to more temptations, since the pagan people were all around them. Therefore, the people gradually gave in to the temptation to worship other gods and to intermarry with the pagan peoples. This was their downfall. God became very angry with them, and instead of fighting for them, He fought against them. They were defeated by their enemies, and they lived in bondage. They went from being victorious conquerors to being the conquered ones.
This happens to believers all the time today. Perhaps, they quit going to church, and they are tempted to do other things that lead them from the Lord. Then, they decide to give themselves over to pleasure or some other temptation to the point that God becomes very angry with them. They wonder why things are not going well, but it is because God is fighting against them. They will not get back into God's favor until they repent and begin to obey God completely again.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 7-8 and Luke 5:1-16.
The first thing I noticed about the Israelites was that they failed to obey God completely once Joshua had died. They still took the land as God commanded, but they did not drive out the inhabitants. That was only partial obedience. I wonder how many times we are only partially obedient to God, and we think it will not be too bad. In fact, we might think we are just fine.
The incomplete obedience led to more temptations, since the pagan people were all around them. Therefore, the people gradually gave in to the temptation to worship other gods and to intermarry with the pagan peoples. This was their downfall. God became very angry with them, and instead of fighting for them, He fought against them. They were defeated by their enemies, and they lived in bondage. They went from being victorious conquerors to being the conquered ones.
This happens to believers all the time today. Perhaps, they quit going to church, and they are tempted to do other things that lead them from the Lord. Then, they decide to give themselves over to pleasure or some other temptation to the point that God becomes very angry with them. They wonder why things are not going well, but it is because God is fighting against them. They will not get back into God's favor until they repent and begin to obey God completely again.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 7-8 and Luke 5:1-16.