Crave

Chronological Bible Reading Plan

April 3rd – Judges 9:22-11:28

Focus Verse:

10:14 Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen, let them deliver you in the time of your distress.

Observation:

God is faithful to His covenant. He patiently endured the adulteress nation of Israel and allowed her to destroy herself. And then, when they find themselves on the brink of total destruction, they turn to the One who delivered them out of Egypt. But God sees the hearts of the people. Their repentance does not penetrate their hearts; it is only an outward display to entice a Holy God. But they have forgotten His character. God is not fooled by their “cleverly” disguised sense of entitlement. They are treating Him as they do all of their other deities. They are trying to manipulate the Holy One of Israel into fulfilling their will.

Interpretation:

God is patient and forgiving, but He is also just. He will allow us to endure the painful consequences of our unwise choices, of our ungodly choices, and of our immoral choices–even to the point that He will allow a nation to destroy themselves.

Application:

We come to God on His terms, not ours. It is only a truly repentant heart that will find forgiveness and redemption. All others are allowed to destroy themselves. It will be a pity to witness the destruction of the United States due to her own refusal to bow the knee to the One who has granted her favor to rise as a world power. We may one day confess, “We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please deliver us this day.” (10:13) But will our Creator find a nation with a repentant heart, or a nation of hearts encroached on their own sense of entitlement? I suspect He is already allowing us to “cry to the gods we have chosen.”  So there is no rescue in sight; we are at the mercy of our hallowed dollar–the god of our choosing.