After seven years of oppression by the Midianites the Israelites cried out to the Lord. You may ask, “What took them so long?” When we go down the path of sinfulness, we don’t want to let go of it because we are comfortable with our sin. In many ways, we are much like the slow responding Israelites.
The Lord was waiting for their cries and when they called to Him, He sent them a prophet to tell them about the good things the Lord did in the past and, also, why God was not happy with their behavior.
7 When they cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 8 the Lord sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. 9 I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. 10 I told you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.” [1] Judges 6:7-10.
The prophet tells the people to remember that God cares for them and He is a God of rescue. The prophet also reveals to them the warning God gave them about worshiping other gods. He reminds them that they failed to listen.
How many times have I not listened to the Lord’s instructions and suffered the consequences? Somehow, I thought I knew better only to find out that was not true. I needed to be corrected and that can be a humbling experience. When God finally gets our attention is when we can ask the Lord to forgive us and He gently guides us back on the right path of life. It took me a long time to understand that God’s plan for my life is always better than my plan.
Where are you going on your spiritual journey? Is the Lord leading you to make a mid-course correction? The good news is that ongoing spiritual corrections are part of the Christian walk. The Lord wants the best for us and when we listen to the Holy Spirit He will correct us. Obedience to His voice will enable us to fulfill God’s plan for us.
Hebrews 12:6 –For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” [2]
To hear more about Israel and Gideon, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/the-call/the-call-gideon
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.