Village Schools of the Bible

RASCALS USED BY GOD
A Devotional Study of Judges
by Max Frazier, Jr.

HOW DO YOU SPELL TROUBLE?
Judges 1-2

The first two chapters of Judges establish the reason for the book. We immediately observe the disobedience of Israel in not driving out all the inhabitants of Canaan.

Chapter one begins well, but closes poorly. The chapter begins with a spirit of enthusiasm on the part of Judah as it joins hands with her brothers, the Simeonites, to drive out the Canaanites from the Promised Land. And God blessed this united effort with a series of great victories.

But, all was not well. The enemy had iron chariots and a strong-will determination. The Israelites soon forgot that God was on their side and His power was more than sufficient for them. So they retreated and did not completely destroy those people whom God had destined for destruction. This continued presence of those people would be the downfall of Israel later.

Incomplete obedience is nothing other than disobedience. God does not want partial obedience from His children. That never pleases Him. Nor does God delight in a compromised obedience. God's desire for us is total unconditional obedience. Although it is hard to obey, the consequences of our disobedience can be ruinous. This is one of the lessons taught in the book of Judges.

In chapter two, we observe where idolatry prompted more disobedience which led to Israel's troubles and defeat. Instead of completing the task of conquering all the land, the task which God had given them to do, Israel stopped short. But, not only were they disobedient in that way, they compounded their disobedience by adopting the standards of those they were to have driven out. The text proclaims that they forsook the Lord. That is, they willingly turned their backs upon God.

Israel knew what it was doing. When they left God, they adopted Baal. What a trade off! That which was living and powerful for that which was dead and useless. Israel's story shows the dangers of compromise with the enemy. Our enemy is never happy with just a little. He wants it all. So, obedience to God is vitally important if we wish to honor God with all we have.

In our next study, we will be introduced to a man by the name of Othniel, a man who knew how to obey God.

Father, As believers, when we look back over our lives and observe those moments when difficulties arose, most often lingering there in the background is an attitude of disobedience to the commands of God. We agree with You, Father, that troubles do begin with the act of our will to disobey You. Father, give to us a heart that yearns to walk in complete obedience for this is the way we can be pleasing before You.

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