Filed under: musings & meanderings | Tags: god's unmerited grace, man's frailty
“The children of Israel again did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”
These words pretty much sum up the condition of Israel after Joshua’s death. A new generation who grew up, neither knew the Lord or what He has done for Israel1, suffered at the hands of the heathen nations, due to their lack of obedience and for constantly falling into idolatry.
Judges 2:10-19: “After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. In his anger against Israel the LORD handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.
Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the LORD’s commands. Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.”
The above passages show how sin, repentance, and deliverance become a recurring cycle throughout the book. And as I continue to read Judges, I have come to realize that Israel’s condition is in fact similar to mine. My human heart is prone to wander away from God and I always find myself lacking the moral energy to obey Him.
Generally, I find myself drifting away from God rather than taking that bold step towards Him. Falling into sin leads me to conform to the world and surrender to a lifestyle that is pleasing in the eyes of men, but not in the eyes of the Lord. Then when problem starts to arise and I begin to feel oppressed and depressed, that’s the time I will cry out to God in repentance. The cycle goes on and on because of my lack of dedication and sincerity to learn from my past mistakes.
But Praise be to God! He is always merciful and willing to respond to my cries of repentance, the same way He responded to the children of Israel. God’s grace in delivering and restoring His people is always evident and available even if I am unfaithful. He is more than faithful and willing to show His love and forgiving favor even if I don’t deserve it.
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1 Judges 2:10b
© 2009 Joy Isaguirre
Reflection Paper
Submitted to Prof. Noli Mendoza
Bible Introduction – ATS
January 19, 2010
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