In this chapter, Tola rescued Israel after Abimelech’s death. He and a man named Jair from Gilead served as judges over Israel for a total of 45 years until God allowed the Ammonites to oppress Israel for 18 years.
After Jair’s death, “...the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They worshiped images of Baal and Ashtoreth, and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia. Not only this, but they abandoned the Lord and no longer served him at all. So the Lord burned with anger against Israel, and he handed them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites, who began to oppress them that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites east of the Jordan River in the land of the Amorites (that is, in Gilead). The Ammonites also crossed to the west side of the Jordan and attacked Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. The Israelites were in great distress. Finally, they cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you because we have abandoned you as our God and have served the Images of Baal.” (Judges 10:6-10)
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, 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!” (Judges 10:11-14)
Isn’t it interesting that each time Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord rescued them? The Israelites got to a point, a rock-bottom point, when they were tired of trying to survive on their own...realizing that they couldn’t do it without the Lord. What’s powerful is that the Lord rescued them when he heard their cry, regardless of how they had sinned against Him. And God rescued them over and over and over again. But this particular time, God said, “I will not rescue you anymore.” (verse13) He was tired of them continually choosing to worship other gods. God said, “Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you…” (verse 14)
Wow! Will God get to a point when he is no longer listening to our cries because we continue to sin against Him?
The chapter ends with the Israelites pleading with the Lord, and discontinuing their worship of foreign gods to serve the Lord. And because God is love, He was grieved by the Israelites' misery, pain, and suffering. It doesn’t bring Him joy when he has to discipline us.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us to remain faithful to you. Help us to never abandon you and to serve only you, so you will always take care of us. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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