Thoughts for another day

Nov. 5, 2009

Today's verse: Judges 2:22. That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Looking at the map of Israel, you’ll notice an amazing thing. Around the boundaries are nations larger than them, more populous and enemies with them. You wonder at the irony. A peek into the history of the world also reveals from ages ago, Israel has always been like that: beset with enemies on all side. There were so many wars and so much bloodshed for a little piece of land! Throughout the history of the Bible we find God promising to be the Savior of Israel. And He has always been that, but before He saved them, the Jews got the harshest treatment from their enemies.

Today’s verse gives a clue to the reason why. You see, from the time God brought them out of Egypt, they insulted Him and craved to go back for stupid reasons as in Nu. 11:5, ‘the food with onions and leeks in Egypt was good!’ Perhaps the Jews never really understood the fragrance of freedom; it’s akin to a person who’s been a slave all his life and suddenly he finds freedom. He doesn’t know what to do with it and wants to go back to his master and once again surrender to him!

In the case of the Jews, what was worse was that they committed every filthy abomination before God, so much so that they were stinking before Him. They never respected or worshipped Him, except when He lifted the whip against them, so to say. So, God abandoned them and left them to their own little games. But whenever, they repented and sought Him, He gave in and helped. Our verse today is a summation of what was the order of the day in terms of the relation between Him and the Jews. God clearly said, that they will have their enemies all around and He would not take them away, so that He may make them keep to His ways and walk in them.

In our lives too, when we discover many stumbling blocks, remember, it’s because God wants to prove us, whether we are faithful to Him or do our own things and it’s at this time you need to check your affiliations with your Father.