Daily Bible Reading for March 30, 2020

Today my Bible reading plan starts the book of Judges, chapters 1-2.

In Chapter 1, the Israelites ask the LORD who will lead them for the fight against the Canaanites who remain in their acquired land. The LORD lets them know that Judah will lead the fight, for he has promised to give them into his hand. Judah defeats many for the LORD was with him, but he could not drive out the Canaanites with the chariots of iron. Other tribes also failed to drive out the nations except for Joseph.

What happened?

In Chapter 2, we learn that the reason the Israelites were not able to drive out the Canaanites was because they began to mix with them, and they did not break down their altars as God instructed. (See Deuteronomy 7:1-5)

“And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land; you shall break down their altars. But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, ‘I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.'” Vss. 2-3

“And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers; who had brought them out of the land of Egypt.” Vss. 11-12a

But God in his mercy had pity on them and raised up judges. These judges were military in nature that God used to save them, but they still went after other gods. So God would not drive out the nations.

My Thoughts On This: God is a jealous God. Like a good father, he disciplines his children for their disobedience. Just as God is a God of mercy, he is also a God of wrath that is kindled when they fail to remember his goodness towards them. We too must remember this. God’s silence or his patience with our failure to heed his word, does not mean that he is not aware, nor care. He will execute judgment in his time, and sometimes his judgment may be to test whether we will cry out, repent and follow him. (See Judges 2:21-22)

“But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy, Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” Isaiah 8:13

Let’s read the Book!