DANGER IN PLENTY | ISRAEL (2)

0. Introduction

a) "When you have eaten and are full - then beware, lest you forget the Lord" (Deuteronomy 6:11-12). It is often most difficult to follow God when life is easy - we can fall prey to temptation and fall away from God.

b) Here is a notable example of this truth.

1. Israel

a) God had given Israel the Promised Land - rest at last with no more wandering. But as soon as brave and faithful Joshua died, they fell into the idolatrous practices of the Canaanites.

i) Israel's unfaithfulness
(Text: Judges 2:11-23)

2. What is the text all about?

a) God often saved his harshest criticism and punishment for those worshiped idols. Why were idols so bad in God's sight? To worship an idol violated the first two of the 10 Commandments. The Canaanites had gods for almost every season, activity, or place. To them, the Lord was just another god to add to their collection of gods. Israel, by contrast, was to worship only the Lord. They could not possibly believe that God was the one true God and at the same time bow to an idol. Idol worshipers could not see their god as their creator because they created him.These idols represent sensual, carnal, and immoral aspects of human nature. God's nature is spiritual and moral. Adding the worship of idols to the worship of God could not be tolerated.

b) Despite Israel's disobedience, God showed his great mercy by raising up judges to save the people from their oppressors. Mercy has been defined as "not giving a person what he or she deserves." This is exactly what God did for Israel and what he does for us. Our disobedience demands judgment! But
God shows mercy toward us by providing an escape from sin's penalty through Jesus Christ, who alone saves us from sin. When we pray for forgiveness, we are asking for what we do not deserve. Yet when we take this step and trust in Christ's saving work on our behalf, we can experience God's forgiveness.

c) Throughout this period of history Israel went through 7 cycles of:

@1. rebelling against God,

@2. being overrun by enemy nations,

@3. being delivered by a God-fearing judge,

@4. remaining loyal to God under that judge, and

@5. again forgetting God when the judge died.

d) We tend to follow the same cycle - remaining loyal to God as long as wer are near those who are devoted to him. But when we are on our own, the pressure to be drawn away from God increases. Determine to be faithful to God despite the difficult situations you encounter.

e) Why would the people of Israel turn away so quickly from their faith in God? Simply put, the Canaanite religion appeared more attractive to the sensual nature and offered more short-range benefits (sexual permissiveness and increased fertility in childbearing and farming). One of its most attractive features was that people could remain selfish and yet fulfill their religious requirements. They could do almost anything they wished and still be obeying at least one of they many Canaanite gods. Male and female prostitution was not only allowed, but encouraged as a form of worship.

f) Faith in the one true God, however, does not offer short-range benefits that appeal to our sinful human nature. The essence of sin is selfishness; the essence of God's way of life is selflessness. We must seek Christ's help to live God's way.