Scripture to Read: Judges 6:1–10
The Book of Judges is a historical account set between Joshua’s death and the establishment of Israel’s monarchy. God lays out for us the records of Israel and their repeated cycles. The nation of Israel would sin against the Lord by committing idolatry through worshipping false gods. Therefore, God would lovingly discipline the nation of Israel by allowing foreign oppression. When the people of Israel would finally cry out to the Lord, He would send them a “judge” to deliver them. The Judge we focus on this week is Gideon. We read in Judges 6:1, “Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian seven years.” Because the nation of Israel sinned against the Lord, He gave them into the hands of the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites, along with the Amalekites and the sons of the east, would destroy Israel’s crops, sheep, oxen, donkeys, and devastate all that the Israelites had. Then, we read in Judges 6:6, “So Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the Lord.” The Israelites, at their lowest point, finally cry out to the Lord. In Judges 6:7–10, the Lord sent a prophet to the sons of Israel to remind them that they suffered because they had chosen not to obey the Lord. As Christians, when we willingly disobey our Lord, He promises in Hebrews 12:5–11 to lovingly discipline us as well. Only through obedience to our Lord are we blessed (James 1:25).
Challenge & Application
Why had God brought His discipline upon the nation of Israel?
Why does God lovingly discipline us (Hebrews 12:5–11) when we willingly walk in rebellion against Him and His Word?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!