- Lesson 2 in the BaptistWay Press Connect360 unit “The Conquerors: Heroes of the Faith” focuses on Judges 2:11-20; 3:5-11.
All throughout the book of Judges, and really all throughout the history of God’s people, we see a set pattern. It begins with rebellion, as God’s people wanted to live life under their authority and in their own ways. Then God responded allowing his people to live under the consequences of their own choices. God’s people then repented of their wicked ways and asked the Lord for help and for deliverance. God, because he is rich in mercy, sent a deliverer or a judge to rescue his people. The pattern simply looked like this: Rebel, response, repentance, rescue.
Rebellion and response
Look at the action words to show the rebellion of God’s people. People did what was evil, served the Baals (Judges 2:11), they abandoned the Lord, they went after other gods, they bowed down to them (Judges 2:12) and again they abandoned the Lord and served the Baals (Judges 2:13). This is the spiral downward, and these are the words of disobedience and rebellion against the Lord. It’s not just that they chased after other gods, it is that they forgot the Lord their God.
The rebellion continued as they whored after other gods and bowed down to them (Judges 2:17) and as they were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways (Judges 2:19). These are incriminating phrases used of God’s people.
So, the response should be no surprise. God was going to respond in judgment. They provoked the Lord to anger (Judges 2:12), and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. God gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And God sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so they could no longer withstand their enemies. Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress (Judges 2:14-15).
Compiled by Stan Granberry, marketing coordinator for BaptistWay Press.
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