CYCLE OF DISOBEDIENCE

Joshua at the end of his life challenged the Israelites to choose to worship the Lord or the gods of other nations. The Israelites eventually committed to worship only the Lord and listen to His word (Joshua 24:24). However, how long did their commitment last?

After Joshua and his fellow elders died, they turned away from the Lord and followed the gods of Canaan, namely Baal and the Ashtoreths. Because of this, the Lord handed them over to their enemies around them, causing them to groan and cry out to the Lord. The Lord, out of compassion, raised up judges to save them. They experienced peace as long as the judges lived. However, when the judges died, they returned to their wicked ways, even worse than before. That was the cycle of disobedience of the Israelites. The life of the Israelites was like a recurring illness, they did not truly worship the Lord. Therefore, the Lord allowed the nations that Joshua left behind to be used as a tool to rebuke His wayward people to return to living according to His word.

Don't we sometimes have such a cycle too? When we live in comfort, we forget the Lord so He gives us warnings that make us restless and suffer. But when we ask for His mercy, He saves us again. Let us realize that we are saved not to return to disobedience, but to do good works for Him. Therefore, let us appreciate the work of God's salvation with obedience. --ANT/www.renunganharian.net