Meet with God - October 2010

meet with

Go d OCTOBER 2010

JUDGES: the good, the bad and the ugly:

judges ...

For Israel, the years of the judges were the “wild west” years. As the people settled their new frontier home, they became a fragmented, lawless people, each man “doing what was right in his own eyes.” God’s chosen people settled for a cycle of failure, sin, repentance and restoration. In the worst of times, God would intervene by appointing judges, special servants, who led His people against invaders, oppressors and Israel’s own moral and religious corruption. For a brief lifetime or a generation, God’s people would operate as He meant them to. But then rebellion, disinterest and forgetfulness would once again take them back through a terrible cycle. What do these pages from history say to us today? This study looks at how godly leadership and faithful obedience can lead to blessings and peace; but the flip side is this: When we fail to follow God’s commands, disobedience leads us to the worst of times. Yet, even then, God is faithful to us, redeeming our failures and turning them into something good by His grace. He may allow us to face judgment and pain, but He never leaves us without hope and a future.

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week one

The Passing of Giants Not all of us are called to lead others, but we are all called to lead ourselves in a godly life. Consider the areas of your life that could use some godly assistance. When the Book of Judges opens, Moses is only a memory; Joshua is dead and Caleb is an aging warrior. A void in leadership had formed, with no new leaders stepping up to take their place. There were, however, a few bright spots. The tribes of Judah and Simeon had teamed up to assist one another in conquering their portions of the land, and God honored their boldness. Then there was Caleb. He was the last living link with Israel’s former meet with G o d

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DAY 1: The Passing of Giants

years as slaves in Egypt. And even in old age, Caleb remained a fierce warrior, taking on greater challenges. But Caleb was old and wouldn’t live forever. How different the landscape looks when the followers become the new leaders! Just as your perspective on the highway and traffic changes as soon as you slip behind the steering wheel, so does your view when you’re a new leader. Leading is always more complicated than it looks and the Book of Judges provides dramatic proof. These opening chapters record many of the “did nots” of Israel after the deaths of their renowned leaders. Tribe after tribe did not take complete possession of their assigned territories. Even a tribe like Judah, who experienced God’s blessing in their efforts, failed to trust Him beyond their comfort zone. Judges 1:19 captures the mixed victory they had over the nations in the mountainous terrain, “the Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country.” It goes on to say, however, “but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron.” Later, one of Judah’s best-known sons, King David, expressed what the tribe should have practiced: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). And that’s the key. Success in life is never about our human leadership, it’s about our heavenly leadership. Moses wasn’t successful because of his charisma or political acumen; he was successful because he fully trusted God. The same went for Joshua and Caleb, and the same goes for you. As we read the Book of Judges, we need to be cautious about passing judgment. The failures of others will be obvious. We may be tempted to feel successful by comparison. But those failures offer us a mirror to see how our lives reflect what we actually believe. Our lives speak louder than our lips. And victory consists of acting on what we say we believe. In what areas of our lives do we need to admit that we “did not” do what God promised to help us do?

Read Judges 1:1–20; 2:1–10 Israel did not completely obey God when they conquered Canaan. What did they fail to do and what caused their failure?

According to verse 2:10, what was the ultimate failure of the nation of Israel?

Read Deuteronomy 11:18–20. How can you ensure that the next generation doesn’t forget about God?

“Diminished faith always brings about diminished victory, and no faith always brings defeat.” —woodrow kroll

Read Judges 1:21–2:11 These verses list Israel’s failures. How does their failure to drive out the inhabitants of the land affect them?

What does this teach you about tolerating sin?

DAY 4: Othniel

DAY 2: The Devastation of Failure

Read Judges 3:1–11 This isn’t the first place we’ve met Othniel. Read Joshua 15:16–19. What makes Othniel a logical choice to be the first judge of Israel?

How are the judges of Israel different from the judges of today (e.g. the Supreme Court Justices)?

How long did Israel experience peace because of Othniel?

DAY 3: The Hot Wrath of God Read Judges 2:11–23 What provoked God’s wrath?

What was the purpose of God’s wrath?

How is God’s mercy evident even here?

time slips away It takes about 105 minutes to read through Judges, so every one minute of reading covers about 3 years of history. And while the events of Judges seem close together as you read, there are gaps of 20, 30, 40 years or more that slip by without your notice. In these times between the judges, the silent years, Israel would grow complacent and forgetful of God, ending up in trouble again. Time may cause us to forget the work of God in our lives, but it doesn’t excuse us from following and obeying Him. What actions can you take to keep yourself from becoming forgetful about God’s work in your life? Journaling, passing along family stories, traditions or visual markers can help.

DAY 5: Ehud

week two

Read Judges 3:12–30 In verse 15, what was Ehud’s distinct physical characteristic?

The literal translation of the Hebrew means that Ehud was “hindered in the right hand” which means it’s likely Ehud was actually physically disabled. How does this challenge you to think about the things you consider your weaknesses?

Have you allowed those things to keep you from serving God?

The Chosen Many WEEKEND: Deborah Read Judges 4:1–24 Describe the cycle we see Israel repeating in Judges.

Read Joshua 17:17–18 and Judges 1:19. What are Deborah’s odds going up against an enemy with chariots and horses?

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Are you living with any broken relationships or situations that need to be reconciled? Any areas where you need to say, “Lord, I blew it”? Admit your failure to God and ask His deliverance. Most of us would probably agree with the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The often-ignored parallel idea states: “If it is broke, fix it.” We may have many reasons to ignore the second rule, but usually it’s a failure to acknowledge the problem. We look at shattered relationships and chaotic situations and murmur, “It’s not that broken; maybe it’ll fix itself,” or “Let’s see how it looks tomorrow.” As a result, we end up living with broken things for years! meet with G o d

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The people of Israel rarely maintained their relationship with God for long. They broke it by neglect and by deliberate actions. They ignored Him and disobeyed Him. And then they refused, sometimes for decades, to admit anything was wrong. As a consequence of this broken relationship, they experienced slavery, poverty, humiliation and defeat. God allowed things to deteriorate until His people finally cried out, “All right, Lord, we admit it’s broken! We blew it! Please help us!” Then God would send a handpicked fixer, known as a judge. We’ve already met the first two judges: Othniel and Ehud. Each man was a unique character with skills that God put to good use. Othniel was a warrior, and Ehud was a courier. Othniel delivered defeat; Ehud delivered a “pointed” message. When the Bible introduces each of these judges it tells us, “The Lord raised up for them a deliverer” (Judges 3:9,15). God chooses and uses His servants according to His purposes. God raised up the judges and filled them with His Spirit (3:10). Othniel, Ehud and the rest had unique skills, but their real contribution came as a result of God’s guidance. They brought about God’s will—the deliverance of His people. When the people repented of sin, God intervened with human servants. God still makes unlikely heroes of ordinary people. He accomplishes extraordinary good in our lives by unexpected means. His Word and His Spirit are His primary tools. But He also fixes broken things using His servants, His churches, His radio programs, His books—God delivers! God doesn’t force deliverance on us. He patiently and lovingly waits for us to acknowledge the sin-chaos in our lives and say to Him, “All right, Lord, we admit it’s broken! We broke it! Please help us!” Then He delivers.

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DAY 1: The Song of Deborah Read Judges 5:1–31 In verse 8, Deborah addresses what led Israel to point of desperation. What was it?

According to Deborah’s song, which tribes of Israel did not participate in the fighting?

Think of the last time God provided for you; how did you respond to Him?

DAY 2: Gideon Hesitates

DAY 4: Gideon’s Fear

Read Judges 6:1–24

Read Judges 7:1–15

What is Gideon doing when the angel appears?

What two tests did Gideon’s men face?

What assurance does God give Gideon that he will be successful when he attacks the Midianites?

What was God’s reason for reducing Gideon’s army so drastically?

How did God reassure Gideon?

DAY 3: Gideon’s Fleece Read Judges 6:25–40 Why is Gideon’s first task to remove the altar of Baal?

DAY 5: Gideon’s Victory Read Judges 7:16–25

Gideon put out fleeces. How did that demonstrate his doubt rather than his faith? (Day 2’s questions may give you a hint.)

We often think of the fleeces as an effort to discover God’s will, but Gideon knew what God wanted him to do; he was just fearful to do it. Have you had that experience? How did you resolve it?

If you watched any of the recent World Cup soccer games, you heard the noisy vuvuzelas. Now, imagine these horns waking you from a sound sleep! Add in crashing noises and sudden light … and you get a taste of what the Midianite army experienced. How does the Bible describe the effect of these unusual tactics on the sleeping army?

What do you think this victory did for the faith of those who followed Gideon?

Why did the tribe of Ephraim complain?

We all have moments when we feel stress or fear because of one situation or another. Following are several verses that address fear. Cut them out and place them in your Bible or somewhere you can access them when you feel afraid.

How did the officials of Succoth undermine Gideon’s leadership?

“The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Fear not, Abram, I am you shield; your reward shall be very great’” (Genesis 15:1).

WEEKEND: Gideon’s Critics Read Judges 8:1–21

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). How did Gideon handle each of these situations?

How do you respond when you try to do as God asks but other believers are critical or even obstructive?

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3).

“‘Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation’” (Isaiah 12:2). “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).

week three

When the Odds Don’t Count The odds were 450 to 1; victory would take a miracle. And that’s the point. Gideon and God had some history. The story of Gideon’s great victory begins with his call in Judges 6. God found the future leader of Israel trying to keep his head down and stay out of trouble with the Midianites. When the Angel of the Lord addressed him as a “mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12), Gideon responded with something like, “Who? Me?” Like many of God’s chosen servants, Gideon accepted his call with reluctance. Along with the rest of Israel, Gideon wanted God’s help, but he didn’t see himself as the person to deliver it. So, Gideon tested God with a sacrifice and with the famous fleeces (6:36–40). After God dealt with the fleece test and the people flocked to Gideon, God gave Gideon a test of His own. Despite the fact that the Midianites still grossly outnumbered Israel, God knew Gideon’s

army would claim victory even if God did all the work. So, God whittled down the army from 32,000 to just 300 men. He wanted His people to be absolutely convinced of the source of victory. Then God allowed Gideon to visit the Midianite camp by night and overhear the news that fear and defeat had already infected that huge fighting force. Gideon returned to his band of men assured the victory was theirs. It may sound like a joke to say that 300 men surrounded 135,000, but that tiny army had three powerful allies: God, darkness and chaos. In the noise and confusion, the Midianite soldiers killed each other. In the end, God’s concern proved true. The people weren’t able to claim God’s victory for themselves, so they claimed it for Gideon. They wanted to make him king, “for you have saved us from the hand of Midian” (8:22). To his credit, Gideon resisted the temptation. To his debit, Gideon decided to create a memorial of the victory in the form of an ephod—an ornate and symbolic cloak. His original intent may have been to honor God, but the object quickly became an idol. Gideon offers us an example of the importance of giving our undivided attention to serving and worshiping God. But godly intention must be matched with godly attention.

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more than “i’m sorry.” The seven laws of repentance:

DAY 1: Gideon’s Legacy

Read Judges 8:22–9:57 A lot of people, including Gideon himself, probably wish that his story ended after chapter 7. But it doesn’t, and we see from Gideon’s life that our greatest victories are often followed by times of greatest temptation. Why was it wrong for Gideon to make an ephod?

1. Repentance always distinguishes itself from regret. 2. Repentance always means more than saying you’re sorry. 3. Repentance always arises out of brokenness. 4. Repentance recognizes your offense against God, not just others. 5. Repentance never attempts to dictate the terms of restitution. 6. Repentance never retaliates or seeks revenge. 7. Repentance is real only when subsequent change is evident.

Though he declined the kingship, what evidence is there that Gideon lived a kingly lifestyle? (Extra: Do some research and find out what the name Abimelech, Gideon’s son, means.)

DAY 2: Trying to Hustle God In Jotham’s parable, who did the trees represent? What lesson do you learn from this story?

Read Judges 10:1–18 Have you ever tried to “hustle” God in the way Israel did (v. 15)? How did God call your bluff ?

By your count, how many times has Israel repeated its pattern of sin, oppression, repentance and deliverance at this point in Judges?

DAY 3: Jephthah’s Mistake

DAY 4: The Minor Judges

Read Judges 11:1–40

Read Judges 10:1–5; 12:8–15

By Judges 11, many of God’s laws had been forgotten or mixed in with the pagan practices from those nations surrounding Israel. In Jephthah, we find a man passionate about taking on God’s challenge. But he lacked an understanding of God’s character and His commands regarding vows and sacrifices. And that cost him the life of his only child. How have you seen someone’s life impacted due to a lack of knowledge about God or His Word?

Gideon and Samson are probably the two best-known judges in the Bible, but there are several judges almost no one remembers simply because we don’t know much about them. In chapter 10 we read about Tola and Jair; chapter 12 talks about Ibzan, Elon and Abdon. But in God’s economy, unknown is not the same as unimportant. Paul reminds us of that in 1 Corinthians 12 when he compares the Church to a body with many parts. Serving God isn’t about making ourselves better known, it’s about making God better known.

Read Leviticus 27:1–8. How would things have been different if Jephthah had known these verses?

Think of mistakes in your life that could have been avoided if you’d known God’s Word a little better. What are you doing to prevent similar mistakes in the future?

What children need to know about god. 1. God is love (1 John 4:8). 2. He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for their sins (John 3:16). 3. They have to believe in God’s Son, Jesus, to have eternal life (John 3:16). 4. We learn about God’s character, and He guides us when we

As you pray today, ask God to help you know Him better. As you read His Word, make a concentrated effort to understand His character and then ask Him to help you become more like Him. Make John’s goal your prayer: He must increase, ... I must decrease (John 3:30).

read the Bible. 5. If we mess up, He’ll forgive us (1 John 1:9). 6. God created them and knew them before they were even born (Psalm 139). 7. God has a plan for their lives (Psalm 37:23).

DAY 5: The Miracle Boy Read Judges 13:1–25 When God promised a son to Manoah and his wife, what was to be distinct about Samson’s life?

Number 6:1–8 describes what it meant to be a Nazirite. What was unique about Samson as a Nazirite?

Only one other Old Testament figure had his birth foretold by an angel. Who was it?

week four

Weekend: Samson’s Marriage Read Judges 14:1–20 In verses 1–3, what warning signs tell you this marriage may not work?

What does Samson do that indicates he doesn’t take his Nazirite vows seriously?

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Breaking the Cycle When we take our relationship with God for granted, we have a terrible surprise waiting for us. Rely on God today for deliverance. Sometimes even the inattentive man notices the obvious! Eventually, a few Israelites began to pick up on the cycle they were in: When we ignore God and worship idols, bad things happen. When we repent and worship God, we have security and peace. When we disobey God, we’re defeated and end up in bondage. When we obey God, we experience freedom. Up to this point, the people were on the verge of a great discovery. But they swerved into error at the last moment. Instead meet with G o d

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of the obvious conclusion to deal with God seriously, they decided to “have their cake and eat it too”—to seek God’s blessing while enjoying their own pursuits. They figured if they convinced God they were repentant (even when they weren’t), God would protect them while they went on their merry, pagan ways. They tried to manipulate God with a false confession. God immediately called their bluff. They revealed their assumption that God Almighty was as easy to deceive as the idols they worshiped. God, however, wasn’t fooled by the words of repentance when the hearts of the people remained in rebellion. He referred them back to their idols for help (Judges 10:11–14). God’s refusal must have been a shock. Now they had to repent without conditions or expectations. “And the children of Israel said to the Lord, ‘We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray’” (Judges 10:15). Not only did they have to throw themselves on God’s mercy, they had to live out their newfound obedience. It wasn’t until they demonstrated their repentance by living faithfully that God delivered them. It has been said, “Where there is no repentance, there’s always repeat-ance.” Repentance is not a formula we can apply to get a result we want. Repentance is a whole-person response to sin that turns away from an old path and walks in a new path. Repentance is more than mouthing words; it’s living obediently. We can never settle for “going through the motions” to please God because He looks at our hearts and knows our motives.

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DAY 1: Starting the Fight Read Judges 15:1–20 When we get to Samson in the Book of Judges, we see something different in the cycle Israel has been repeating now for over two hundred years. Israel has forgotten God, and a foreign nation is oppressing them, but this time Israel has not cried out for deliverance. Though he was far from perfect, Samson was Israel’s wake-up call: he began the fight against the oppressive Philistines which wouldn’t end until David sat on the throne. Verses 10–13 indicate a possible reason why Israel didn’t call out for God’s help. What is that reason?

What does this tell you about the spiritual and moral state of Israel in these days?

DAY 2: Samson’s Weakness

fun zone

Read Judges 16:1–31

Samson was very strong man. His physical strength was God’s gift to Him so he could defeat Israel’s enemies, the Philistines. But in some areas Samson was weak. Following are a few events in Samson’s life. Rate them according the strength meter. 100 is strong; 0 is weak.

What weakness made Samson vulnerable to temptation and trouble?

for kids or the kid in you ...

1. Samson fought and killed a lion.

What does Samson’s experience with Delilah teach us about dealing with temptation?

2. Samson took honey from the dead body of a lion and ate it. (He was forbidden by God to touch a dead body.) 3. Samson pulled out the gates of an enemy city and carried them away.

What makes verse 22 significant to God’s overall plan for Samson?

4. Samson fell in love with a Philistine woman. She tricked him into telling her the source of his strength. 5. Samson fell asleep and his enemies cut his hair (the source of his strength).

If you were to give the eulogy at Samson’s funeral or write his obituary, what would you say?

6. Samson was captured, his eyes gouged out, and he was thrown into prison. 7. Samson prayed to God for strength and destroyed the enemy.

See answers on the inside back cover.

DAY 3: Micah Read Judges 17:1–18:31 These last five chapters of Judges are especially tragic. They show at a personal level how far Israel had fallen from God. Even more tragic is the fact most of the people probably didn’t even realize it. Why might Micah have claimed that he truly loved and served God? What would be wrong with that claim?

“We get our moral bearing by looking at God. We must begin with God. We are right when, and only when, we stand in a right position relative to God, and we are wrong so far and so long as we stand in any other position.” —A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God.

How did the Levite, Jonathan, show where his true loyalties were?

DAY 5: Civil War Read Judges 20:1–48

DAY 4: How Low Can You Go? Read Judges 19:1–30 Portions of this chapter closely mirror the story of the angels visiting Lot in Sodom (Genesis 19). The tragedy is that the events in Judges are carried out by Israelites in an Israelite city. Name a couple ways in which the Israelites’ moral compass was off.

Look back at Judges 1:27–36 and compare the Israelites’ attitudes there towards the foreign nations with their attitude here towards their brother tribe. What is ironic about the way they treat the tribe of Benjamin?

What is the proper response to sin in our lives?

Are there any sin issues in your life that are pulling your focus away from God?

Weekend: Going Too Far Read Judges 21:1–25 If you hoped for a happy ending to Judges, you’ll be disappointed. In fact, the book closes with one of the most tragic verses in the whole Bible: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Many commentators have drawn parallels between Israel in the days of the Judges and Christianity in 21st century America. Do you think there is any merit to that claim?

Meet with God, an official publication of Back to the Bible Woodrow Kroll, President Copyright © 2010 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Printed in the U.S.A.

sticking points

re new your memor y

Incomplete obedience to God will lead to failure. What aspects of your life need to be upgraded from partial to full obedience? Only God can fix what’s broken. Are you ever fearful of His help? Or do you welcome it, trusting Him completely? Victory comes at God’s hand. Your part is to be faithful and obedient to His call. How are you doing with that? The evidence of a repentant heart is an obedient life. Anything less leads to empty, powerless living. What needs to happen in your heart? In your life?

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version, unless where otherwise noted. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Editor: Ben Zuehlke Project Staff: Allen Bean, Ben Zuehlke, Barbara Gerhart, Brandy Griffin, Emily Wurl, Kathy Thorne, Leisa Larson Design: Brandy Griffin Cover and Interior Photos: www.Shutterstock.com Back to the Bible P.O. Box 82808 Lincoln, NE 68501 Answers to FunZone on page 27: 1. 100; 2. 0 He was weak; he disobeyed God because he wanted honey; 3. 100 4. 0, once again Samson was weak because he wanted his own way and not what God wanted; 5. 0; 6. 0; 7. 100

Judges: Ordinary People, Extraordinary God Judges: Ordinary People, Extraordinary God shows how God can work in anyone’s life, utilizing both strengths and weaknesses to carry out His will. Discover God’s desire to use you for His extraordinary purposes, order Judges: Ordinary People, Extraordinary God today!

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