Judges 10

Judges 10

'And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. And the

LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the

Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?

The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.'

Judges 10:6-14

The Israelites were once again disregarding God and the commandments that He had set up for them to follow, particularly the first commandment, where He specifically gave them instruction not to have any other gods before Him. But what were they doing? Serving the gods of Syria, Zidon, Moab, Ammon, and the Philistines. It would seem that they had no ability to think at all. They knew what was wrong, and they knew what was right, and most of the time they decided to do wrong, to go their own way, to do what they wanted to. But after being held captive by the Philistines for 18 years, they decided they needed a drastic change at least for the present. They repented, and asked the Lord's forgiveness for their sin. The Lord, however, toldthem they could ask the gods that they had chosen to deliver them in their affliction.

'And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. And they put away the strange gods from among them,

and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.'

Judges 10:15-16

There would be many more instances just like this in the future where they would turn away from the Lord and serve other gods, be captured and/or sold into slavery, and then once again they would come to a realization that they needed their God. But until they learned their lesson, they would never be free from punishment. You can sin and think you will not be punished. But in the end, you will always be found

out, one way or another He will get your attention, and you will come to a realization that you need your God.

Have I found out that sin doesn't pay?

Do I think that I can do my own thing, without God?