Why does the Lord go to great lengths to get our attention? In our story of Gideon, the Scriptures reveal that the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord, so He handed them over to the Midianites for seven years.
2 The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, marauders from Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east would attack Israel, 4 camping in the land and destroying crops as far away as Gaza. They left the Israelites with nothing to eat, taking all the sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. 5 These enemy hordes, coming with their livestock and tents, were as thick as locusts; they arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare. 6 So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help. [1] Judges 6:2-6.
After seven years of being oppressed the Israelites, like the prodigal son, finally came to their senses, that’s stubborn. After coming to their senses, the Israelites finally cried out for help!
Like a wayward child the Israelites needed to be corrected. In God’s mercy He used another nation to bring them to their knees so they would return to Him. The Lord’s goal throughout the Bible is for people to repent and turn away from the destructiveness of sin and come back to Him. Because of His mercy He allows things to happen to shake us up and get our attention. The Lord is more interested in our salvation than our personal comfort.
At the age of 27 I was in a very bad car accident, but through the mercy of God was not hurt. In the process, the Lord got my attention and I made significant changes in my life after that.
Has the Lord ever used an event in your life to get your attention? How did that change the path that you were on? What can you learn from the Israelites in this story about God?
To hear the story of Gideon in Israel, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/the-call/the-call-gideon
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Jdg 6:2–6). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.