Listen to God’s Judges

July 10, 2011


Background Scripture: Judges 2; 21:25
Lesson Passage: Judges 2:11 – 19

If you continue to do what you have always done, you will continue to receive what you have always received. That simple saying has been stated in many variants for many years yet we never seem to learn its lesson. It appears as though humanity is destined to follow the wrong path and receive chastisement as a result of it. Today’s lesson is a reminder to me that Israel is the church’s example. As such, the church should learn from Israel’s mistakes and fare better. Just as younger siblings are often spared the same chastisements as the older because they choose to learn from the punishment of others, likewise, the church would do well to look to Israel as the elder sibling. Nevertheless, it seems as though some lessons are not learned as a result of mere observation. Today’s lesson from the book of Judges brings us to the edge of a three-century long era in Israel’s history which has an oft repeated cycle of national apostasy, punishment at the hands of their enemy, prayer of distress, and deliverance by God. During these turbulent three centuries, God brought deliverance through his servants the judges. These judges are mostly presented as military leaders who God raised up to overthrow Israel’s adversaries and then they remained as the civil leader over the nation until their death. After the death of the judge, the cycle repeated itself. Our topic says “Listen to God’s Judges”. This was often not the problem as long as the judge lived. The problem stemmed from not continuing to heed the advice and wisdom of the judges after the death of the judges. There are two things that stand out when one studies the book of Judges. First, the problems started after the death of Joshua and his generation who had known the Lord through His many miraculous acts on Israel’s behalf. It leads one to question whether this up-and-coming generation behind the elders had been properly—and especially thoroughly—educated and trained to seek the Lord and His righteousness. Had they been taught the details of God’s dealings with their forefathers from Egypt to Canaan? How real was God to this up-and-coming generation? The second thing that stands out in studying this book is the oft repeated phrase “in those days, there was no king in Israel”. This phrase points towards an unnamed author who lived at a time after the rise of the monarchy in Israel. That time, which had not come at this juncture in the nation’s history, was the time the nation completely rejected the rule of God over them as a nation. So then, the book of Judges records the time when Israel still had a choice to return to God’s rule of the nation so they could continue to live at peace without interruption. Instead, they only called upon God when times were hard and after God delivered them, they rejected His continuous rule over them. This was a mistake they needed not repeat. For in the times of distress, God allowed His spirit to rest on one who was empowered to overthrow their enemy and lead them back to right relationship with God. Much suffering could have been avoided if only they would have listened to God’s judges.

Robert C. Hudson
June 30, 2011

God Responds to Disobedience

July 03, 2011

Background Scripture: Joshua 7, 8
Lesson Passage: Joshua 7:1, 10 – 12, 22 – 26

Last week’s lesson was a demonstration of God’s power on display as a result of faith in His word and following His plans. We were left in awe as the once impregnable fortress crumbled under the invisible hand of God so that the warriors of Israel could enter Jericho and destroy all living beings inside except Rahab and her household. The rest is history; however, that’s not the end of the story. Somebody in Israel’s army did not do everything according to God’s instructions. (There always seems to be one.) He marched like everyone else since he did not want to be seen as out of order. He kept quiet through six days of parading around Jericho just like God demanded of them since he did not want to be heard as out of order. But when no one was watching, he went totally against God’s instructions. He allowed his lust to consume him to the point of blatantly disobeying God. He saw a beautiful garment, a stash of silver, and a brick of gold inside Jericho. It was too much to resist so he used the “five finger discount” to appropriate it for himself. He hid it from his fellow soldiers and buried it inside his tent where no one was likely to find it. Then Israel’s next battle came and the miraculous victory at Jericho quickly became a faint memory as an embarrassing defeat by a much smaller enemy sobered them up. This defeat points towards several shortcomings on Israel’s part. First, without consulting with God, Israel decided to let the majority of the military rest and only send a small number of soldiers to take Ai. This action indicates that Israel was determined to handle Ai using their strength instead of depending on God. Secondly, they were operating under a curse and they did not know it. God had made it known to Joshua that he had cursed the whole city of Jericho which included the occupants and the material items. The only thing to be spared was Rahab’s household. Israel was charged with utterly destroying everything with fire. Joshua and the elders of Israel went into mourning before the Lord after the embarrassing defeat at Ai. They were filled with fear that this would cause their enemies to become emboldened and conspire together to destroy Israel in the land of Canaan. Joshua’s question to God at that time was simple, Why? God’s answer was also simple but yet shocking. “You won’t be able to face your enemies until you have gotten rid of these cursed things.” Israel was under a curse and most of them did not know it. Someone had disobeyed God’s instructions and had taken some of the things that God had cursed. The nation of Israel was now suffering because of it and they would continue to suffer until they find and destroy the guilty party and the cursed things. Achan was identified as the culprit and he then confessed to his sin and told them why he had taken the objects and where he had hidden them. After the objects were retrieved, Achan, his family, possessions, and the accursed objects were taken to the valley. All were put to death and burned with fire along with the accursed things and covered with stones. After this, God then led Joshua and Israel to totally defeat Ai and destroy the city with fire. Disobedience in the ranks of God’s people had caused a major setback. Only after the disobedience was dealt with did God again bless Israel to prosper.

Robert C. Hudson
June 27, 2011

God Gives Victory

June 26, 2011


Background Scripture: Joshua 5:13 – 6:27
Lesson Passage: Joshua 6:2 – 4, 12 – 20

When an all out battle is about to ensue, how can a military person who is present not be for either side? The answer is when he has his own army to command and he is there because he is totally committed to carrying out God’s orders one hundred percent. In other words, he was not there to submit to either side and assist them in carrying out their battle plans because he had his own agenda given by a higher authority and that’s where his loyalty lay. Israel and Jericho appeared to be in gridlock. Jericho was shut up securely and well defended on high ground. Israel’s plans involved marching in silence around the invincible Jericho in obedience to God’s instructions to Joshua. Probably unbeknown to Israel and for sure unbeknown to the residents of Jericho is the fact that there was another army present. That was God’s invisible army. Joshua had been made aware of their presence through their captain. As far as what could be seen, Israel’s actions no doubt were confusing to those inside Jericho. For six days the residents of Jericho witnessed them come out and march around the city one time and leave for the day. Each day this was done, the only sound heard other than that of the feet of those in the procession was the sound of the trumpets (or rams’ horns) from the seven priests marching behind the forward guard and in front of the gold plated box being carried by priests and that was followed by the rear guard. The seventh day, it would not be just one trip around the city but Israel made seven trips around the city and then shouted and Jericho has not been the same since that day. Those high and impregnable walls collapsed and the city that was once a stronghold suddenly found itself vulnerable without walls at all. Israel’s army rushed in quickly and killed all living beings there except Rahab and those in the house with her. Even the animals were slaughtered. That which remained of the city that could be burned was destroyed with fire. A curse was pronounced on anyone who dared to rebuild that city. The news of this quickly spread throughout the land as others awaited their fate. The city was destroyed because the hand of God was against it. Joshua had led Israel to complete obedience to God’s instructions and the results were just as God said they would be. Israel’s devotion or love for God had been demonstrated through their obedience. Although the task of defeating Jericho seemed physically impossible, yet God had not required anything difficult of Israel. Through their simple obedience, the impossible was done. What exactly happened to Jericho’s walls to cause them to collapse? Do you remember that captain who was not for Israel or for Jericho but he commanded the invisible army of God? Israel did not defeat Jericho. God defeated Jericho. But for Israel’s obedience to God, God allowed them to wear the title of champions. Put another way, God allowed Israel to be crowned victors in His stead because of their loving obedience to Him in doing the simple things. “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:3 – 4

Robert C. Hudson
June 7, 2011

God Protects His People

June 19, 2011

Background Scripture: Joshua 2
Lesson Passage: Joshua 2:2 – 9, 15, 16, 22 – 24

As I studied today’s lesson, it reminded me of the events that took place forty years prior to the event recorded here in the book of Joshua. At that time, Israel was at Kadesh-barnea and on the brink of entering Canaan to possess it. Their leader, Moses, assembled twelve men—one from each of the twelve tribes of Israel—to go in to Canaan and spy out the land and bring back an assessment of it. When the twelve returned forty days later, they assured Moses that the land was as fruitful as God had promised it would be. However, they were careful to note that the inhabitants were men of large stature and their cities were heavily fortified. Ten of those men insisted that any attempt to occupy Canaan would be a suicide mission for Israel. Their report disheartened the people and caused them to lose hope and even worse, they loss faith in God. This led to forty years of delay and punishment in the wilderness. Only two of those men, Joshua and Caleb, tried to encourage the people to have faith in God and His divine protection of Israel. Israel refused to hear them and instead accepted the consequences of their faithlessness. Perhaps it was Joshua’s reflection on what it was like to be part of the losing minority report that prompted him to only select two men for this mission. (Some committees are too large to accomplish anything but the generation of confusion and despair.) It is somewhat puzzling as to why Joshua would even bother to send spies into the land at all knowing that Moses indicated that his reason for doing so was that the people suggested it and not that God required it of them. Although the book of Numbers record that God instructed Moses to send the men, Moses made it clear in Deuteronomy that it was the request of the people that initiated the action. No doubt, Joshua had learned much throughout the years of serving Moses and seeing God’s handiwork on behalf of Israel. One thing he certainly learned is that God protects His people. God constantly provided for them during their journey through the wilderness on their way to Kadesh-barnea. He protected Joshua and the other eleven spies forty days while they were in Canaan. He protected Israel whenever He sent them to battle against His enemy—with Joshua often being responsible for leading Israel into battle. So whether God had instructed Joshua to spy out Jericho or not, Joshua knew that God would be with the two men and bring them back safely. What Joshua did not know is what we too often don’t know as well, what obstacles would be encountered and how God would handle the situation. Nevertheless, to know that God protects His people is enough to give us holy boldness as we move forward and do His will. The spies went in and were detected and sought out but God had stirred up the faith of one of the residents of Jericho to choose His side rather than the side of her fellow townsmen. God knows how to use the enemy to thwart his own plans and defeat his own wicked intentions. Rahab the harlot became a part of the messianic line of the Christ perhaps because she allowed herself to have faith in God’s divine protection of his own and she too wanted that protection for herself and her family.

Robert C. Hudson
June 7, 2011

God Expects Obedience

June 12, 2011


Background Scripture: Joshua 1
Lesson Passage: Joshua 1:7 – 18

In our lesson today, God commanded Joshua to depend on the guidance of His word to ensure success in what he was about to undertake. In order for this to happen, Joshua needed to know the word and meditate on it day and night. Joshua had to read the word to know what was written in it. He was charged with keeping all of the law not just portions of it. The law had provisions for blessings or curses to Israel based on their obedience to the instructions found therein. Blessings required obedience to all of the law even as Moses had instructed Israel on the plains of Moab just a month prior to this encounter between God and Joshua. If Joshua failed to keep (or do) all that God commanded to ensure success, then he would not be able to avoid the curse of the law. The curse only required one infraction of the law to be invoked. Therefore, Joshua was reminded to not deviate from the word. He was to take heed not to do more or less than God prescribes in the law. For his obedience, he was assured above all else that God’s presence would keep him from becoming afraid or discouraged. Joshua indicated his understanding of God’s instructions and he demonstrated his willingness to be obedient to God by engaging all of the leaders in Israel to prepare them to enter the land of Canaan within three days. After over four hundred years of promises and waiting, within three days, the conquest of Canaan will commence. Joshua reminded the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh about the commandment given by God through Moses concerning them. They were to lead their brethren into battle rather than discourage them by refusing to go into Canaan. They had previously agreed to this in exchange for being allowed to settle in the land east of the Jordon River rather than in the land of Canaan with the rest of the tribes of Israel. Although Moses was now dead, they had made a promise to follow through on this commitment and Joshua was reminding them of God’s commandment concerning this matter. In exchange for their commitment to lead the armies of Israel into battle, they would be allowed to leave their wives and children in the new settlement east of the Jordan River where they would be safe and could begin their new lives as shepherds in the lush grazing land. Once the other tribes were settled into their possessions, then the two and a half tribes could return to their families and possessions. Not only did the two and a half tribes consent to their original commitment to Moses, they went further and pledged their allegiance to Joshua as their commander-in-chief to be good soldiers under his leadership even as they were with Moses. Joshua’s willing obedience to God’s leadership of him had placed him in the position of receiving the same type of followers under his own command. As Joshua was obedient to God, so was Israel obedient to Joshua. Not only does God expect obedience from us, but He also makes us the recipients of obedient followers to our own leadership.


Robert C. Hudson
June 1, 2011