We Are They

In the span of just a few verses in the Book of Judges, the Israelites went from having penitent hearts to disobeying God. From the shedding of repentant tears to total disobedience. I seems to me that . . . we are they.

The most astonishing thing about this particular passage of scripture is just who it was who called them out. It was Jesus!

"The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3 And I have also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; they will become traps for you, and their gods will become snares to you.’” - Judges 2:1-3

Examine the words of this pre-incarnate appearance of our Lord Jesus. I brought you up out of Egypt". Those words were spoken by God to the Israelites through Moses.

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt." - Exodus 20:2

And now Jesus speaks these same words to them years later. It is a good reminder that Jesus IS God - the Trinity - three-in-one.

And these words: "You have disobeyed me!" These are harsh words coming from our King. He is rebuking His people. Yet, God has mercy.

"When the angel of the Lord had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, 5 and they called that place Bokim. There they offered sacrifices to the Lord." - Judges 2:4-5

The word 'bokim' literally means "weeping."

Yet, for as sad and repentant as God's people were, just a few verses later in Judges 2 they were back at it again - disobeying God. In just one generation.

"After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt." - Judges 2:10-12

We can sit here and rip on the Israelites for forgetting God, but are WE any different? I think not. For all practical purposes, we ARE they.

We practice lawlessness, desire to kill our babies, we behave sexually just like Sodom did (and God destroyed them). What makes US so special that He should spare us?

We need a little "bokim" in this world. No, we need a lot! We need repentance and weeping for our sins. What do you think the chances are of that happening in the world we live in today? Slim to none is MY guess.

But you know what? God can do anything. He answers the prayers of His obedient children. Then let us be obedient. And let us pray! God IS a faithful God!

I am convinced that Your promises will hold together

And I will dwell in the hope of Your love forever

I am convinced that Your promises will hold together

And I will dwell in Your love

Faithful God - I Am They