A pattern repeating through centuries, a cycle God will help us break
By Dean Collins
Does this sound familiar? Things are going well. The family, the marriage, work, life, all in a good place—and then you fall back into the old behaviors. You forget the grace and goodness of God and believe you can just do it yourself. Self-reliance becomes comfortable. Your determination brings some success and recognition, and then the ego stroking becomes pride. Pride likes company and is determined to enjoy some of what the world has to offer. And unchecked pride can easily take shortcuts. Before you know it, shortcuts result in moral and spiritual failures.
The book of Judges is filled with examples of the Israelites in this cycle of behavior. God rescued and provided, and the result was peace and rest. But sooner or later, probably not the day after God’s rescue but eventually, the Israelites fell to bad choices. They seemed small at first. Maybe it was laziness in expressing gratitude. Maybe they forgot to tell each other the stories of God’s delivery. Temptation crept up and dangled her notions that there’s a better way than relying on God. But the alternatives also demanded loyalty and worship. The alternative gods required payment. God is loving and he allows us to choose. The Israelites time after time chose Baal, Ashtaroth, and other gods. And every time their choices led to bondage.
Your pattern, too?
Here is the pattern with Israel’s name omitted so we can fill in the blanks and see if we recognize ourselves and our patterns.
____ did what was evil in the sight of the Lord,
and the Lord gave them into the hand of _____ for years.
But Israel always eventually came to their senses and cried out to God. And God in his mercy would raise up a judge who would lead them back to safety and victory against the enemy. The result was always rest. I’ll quote another verse and allow you to fill in the blanks.
So ____ was subdued before the people ...
and they (the enemy) raised their heads no more. And ____had rest forty years in the days of ____
Looking for victory?
Most of us don’t go around blatantly doing evil. But we often elevate self and others over God. Scripture is clear that only God is worthy of our worship. Jesus said to seek first God’s kingdom, and God will take care of the rest. When we seek anything over God, the enemy sets his hook. Before we notice, we are caught in the cycle again.
Eventually Israel would cry out for a king who would save them. They would learn that an earthly king may win a few battles but cannot break the pattern. Only Jesus our Savior and king has that ability.
Paul reminds us in many places that when we follow Jesus, nothing can separate us from God’s love. In Christ we are more than conquerors and we join a triumphant parade that enables us to spread the love, the knowledge, and even the sweetness of God everywhere.
If you find yourself stuck in the pattern of wrecked dreams, shattered hopes, and a broken life, then turn to God today. Victory is just a prayer away.
Your time with God’s Word
Judges 6:1; 8:28, 33-35; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:35, 37-39 ESV
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