Israel gets too comfortable in the promised land. What dangers should we avoid when comfortable? This book gives us many lessons.
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In this journey...
We understand:
- The deteriorating cycle of sin and restoration in Israel and the church today
- The secrets of recovery and victorious living
The Repeating Cycle
Snapshot
Israel’s downfall is due to the following reasons:
- Failure to receive/ pass on God’s word
- Foolishness to covenant with “Trojan horses”
- Faithlessness of leaders/judges
- Falling away from God
Failure to Pass on/ Receive God’s Word
God’s instructions were very clear. His command through Moses is given below.
Deuteronomy 6:6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Failure to Pass on/ Receive God’s Word
God’s command through:
- Abraham (Gen. 18:19) For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his childrenand his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just…
- Paul (Eph. 6:4). Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
- Jesus charged the parents and his disciples, to bring the little children to him (Luke 18:15-17).
Failure to Pass on/ Receive God’s Word
Sadly, soon after Joshua died, the legacy began to get lost. New generations did not even know God or His great works in the lives of their ancestors.
- Judges 2:8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died… of Mount Gaash.
- Judges 2:10 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”
Failure to Pass on/ Receive God’s Word
This had serious and dangerous consequences then as it does today. It results in:
- People losing the connect and commitment to God and instead loving the world and the things in the world (1 John 2:14-17), more than they do, God.
- God turning away and becoming not a helper but an enemy (Joshua 2:11-15).
Foolishness to Covenant with “Trojan Horses”
A trojan horse is a seemingly harmless invasion of sin into our lives. It may be just a thought. When Joshua covenanted with Giveonitsa, the mistake repeated itself. God announces the consequences.
The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokimand 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 2:1-4
Foolishness to Covenant with “Trojan Horses”
What are the Trojan horses invading our country, our churches, our lives? How do we deal with them?
Faithlessness of Leaders/Judges
The cycle of sin continues though God raises Caleb’s brother, Ehud, we see leadership quality falling. The nation follows suit.
- Faith of leaders’ deteriorate
- Barak does not have courage
- Gideon requires a fleece
- Jepthah sacrifices his daughter
- Samson yields to carnality
- The last verse of judges says that “everyone does what is right in their sight”.
- People are now a law unto themselves. God is case aside.
Falling away from God
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. Judges 21:25
Discussion
Which of the following is the most dangerous in your view?
- Failure to receive/ pass on God’s word
- Foolishness to covenant with “Trojan horses”
- Faithlessness of Leaders/Judges
- Falling away from God
References
christiantrainingonline.org