SCRIPTURE: Judges (NIV) 10:13 [The LORD speaking:] But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. 14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”
15 But the Israelites said to the LORD, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.”
16Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.
OBSERVATION: God had chosen Israel as His special people. He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. But Israel put God through much heartache by turning to other gods. Now they were in trouble and asking for help. God was understandably angry (verse 7) with them and told them to go to the other gods they had chosen to worship. But, instead of turning to the other gods, Israel, obviously knowing there was only One True God, got rid of the foreign gods. Then God had a problem. The problem—His love! He could bear their misery no longer! What a special insight into the character of our amazing God!
APPLICATION: Parents who go through ups and down with their children should easily be able to identify with God. They can become so angry with the decisions their children make, yet they lovingly suffer with their children through the results of those decisions.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for not paying attention to what you have said. I need your Holy Spirit to help me not to do those things that hurt you, but to help me do those things that bring joy to your heart. Amen.
Pastor Leon
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