Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim; Israel was in great distress. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.” (Judges 10:6-10 NIV)
Well... they blew it again! The Israelites (like us) had a tendency to turn their backs on God and worship other gods. But, I have to give it to them - at least they had enough sense to repent - to turn back to God who has and will deliver them - when they are backed in a corner and need deliverance! I am always amazed at the number of people who will not repent - who cannot even begin to acknowledge that the reason that they are in trouble is because of the false gods they've been following and serving.
I have to admit, on more than a few occasions, I have just wanted to say: "What is wrong with you? Can't you see that you've done this to yourself by making choices to follow a god - to follow a path - that can only lead to destruction?" Actually, what goes through my head is usually not in such kind terms.
It is just very difficult for me to believe that it is so hard for people to understand that all the bad stuff that might be happening in someone's life - is not everyone else's fault. In this world, it is important that we take responsibility for our own actions and if the consequences are not so good then maybe we need to consider other courses of action. Listening to the way in which the LORD, your only true God would have one go, would be a very wise thing to do - particularly if you're really sick and tired of being backed in a corner with no place to go. Jesus saves! Only God can deliver you from yourself.
May the LORD, your God help you to follow in the way that He would have you go.
I have to admit, on more than a few occasions, I have just wanted to say: "What is wrong with you? Can't you see that you've done this to yourself by making choices to follow a god - to follow a path - that can only lead to destruction?" Actually, what goes through my head is usually not in such kind terms.
It is just very difficult for me to believe that it is so hard for people to understand that all the bad stuff that might be happening in someone's life - is not everyone else's fault. In this world, it is important that we take responsibility for our own actions and if the consequences are not so good then maybe we need to consider other courses of action. Listening to the way in which the LORD, your only true God would have one go, would be a very wise thing to do - particularly if you're really sick and tired of being backed in a corner with no place to go. Jesus saves! Only God can deliver you from yourself.
May the LORD, your God help you to follow in the way that He would have you go.
God's Peace - Pr. J
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