Crisis after crisis, it’s starting to feel like Israel only wants God when they are in a crisis! And it is not like they want God out of love; they treat God more as a pain reliever! When the destructive sin cycle of idolatry becomes too painful, they cry out to God for immediate pain relief, not out of genuine repentance. Notice how God calls them out for this…
The LORD replied, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you. Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!” But the Israelites pleaded with the LORD and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.” (Judges 10:11–15, NLT)
Uh-oh, the old pain reliever is not working like it used to, so Israel tries a different brand; his name is Jephthah. The irony of this choice is that Jephthah had previously fled his people because they hated him! Now, they are reaching out to him because he has the reputation of being a mighty warrior. Since the God-pill of relief isn’t working anymore, they try the next best brand of pain reliever. Notice how puzzling this is for Jephthah!
The elders said, “Come and be our commander! Help us fight the Ammonites!” But Jephthah said to them, “Aren’t you the ones who hated me and drove me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now when you’re in trouble?” “Because we need you,” the elders replied. “If you lead us in battle against the Ammonites, we will make you ruler over all the people of Gilead.” Jephthah said to the elders, “Let me get this straight. If I come with you and if the Lord gives me victory over the Ammonites, will you really make me ruler over all the people?” (Judges 11:6–9, NLT)
Israel just doesn’t get it! God couldn’t have given Israel a better illustration of how they treated Him in Jephthah! But it flies about thirty-thousand feet over their heads! How pitiful a condition is this sin cycle of idolatry! Wasn’t this the nation of which it was said in Deuteronomy 4:6, “How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!”
Delusion and pain are the nature and effects of unrepentant sin. Repentance is the only true pain reliever for Israel or for any nation or person. Indeed, repentance is not instant or convenient pain relief, but it is extra strength because it treats the sin, not just the symptoms. Repentance is honesty, calling out our sin for what it is and confessing it, taking responsibility for it, and a genuine change of mind wherein we turn our back on it. The results are truly extra-strength!
The call to repentance is a daily, personal, and needful one. It is protection against delusion! It is an extra-strength pain reliever! And here is what is incredible! The Great Physician is willing and faithful to step in and forgive the repentant—every time (1 John 1:9)!
Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord… (Acts 3:19–20, NLT)
Thank you for joining with me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Judges 10:1-12:15.