Facing God's Tests

INTRO

Today, we’re looking at Judges 3—4 and will be looking at how the Israelites passed the test. How did they do once they were no longer following Joshua’s leadership?

TEACHING

Judges 3:1–4: Verse 1 seems to bring something new to us. Joshua had been told to conquer all the land, but Judges 3:1 states that God let some nations test Israel. We’ll see how Israel did on this test. Note that God grades on a different scale than we understand. This would teach the younger generations of Israel to fight in battles (v. 2). These younger generations had not experienced war before, so this provided a reality check. They were soft and God needed to toughen them up.

Think about whether we too need a reality check. Have we forgotten what it cost to stand where we do today?

Fragmented groups of Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, and Hivites were left behind as part of this test (vv. 3–4). Does God still test us today?

Exodus 13:17–18 states God did not lead the Israelites on the shortest route past the Philistines in case they changed their minds and wanted to return to Egypt.

Deuteronomy 8:1–2 describes the wilderness journey as a test to see if they trusted God.

2 Corinthians 13:5: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless you fail the test.”

Judges 3:5–8: Instead of removing these nations (v. 4), the Israelites chose to live among them. They married pagan daughters, married their own daughters to pagan sons, and they worshipped pagan gods (vv. 5–6). They specifically intermarried with the Canaanites and other pagan groups. They mixed their families and took on the worship of other gods. They compromised the integrity of their marriages by marrying outside of their own beliefs. They moved from relationship to compromise, to idolatry, to captivity. They did something that seemed small, but was “evil in the sight of the Lord.” They began to worship the Baals and Asherahs and ended up in idolatry (v. 7). As a result of their sin, God was angry and sold them to the king of Mesopotamia, into slavery (v. 8).

Why did God seek justice? Some people look at this and wonder how a loving God could punish those He loves. This was a corporate (national) sin over time. It wasn’t one sin that happened once or twice. We understand a judge is one who brings justice; and justice brings liberation. God loves us too much to allow us to continue in sin. God can be angry and discipline us to bring us back to where we should be, and never lose an ounce of love! God will never shy away from justice. Sin will tip us out of balance, but the Holy Spirit brings that balance back. Why? Because He loves us—even through sometimes tough love is required.

Judges 3:9–11: The people of Israel cried out to God, and the Lord raised up a deliverer—Othniel, Caleb’s younger brother (v. 9). Othniel, as a man, was not the deliverer; God was the deliverer. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel, and then he became the judge of Israel, and he went out to war against Mesopotamia (v.10). God’s Spirit empowered Othniel to do what he did. They were in captivity for eight years (v.8), and then they walked in peace for the next 40 years (v. 11).

Judges 3:12–31: Again, the Israelites sinned (v. 12), and God handed them over to Moab for 18 years (vv. 13–14). And once again the people cried out to God so He raised up Ehud as the next judge. Ehud actually killed the king of Moab, and the people of Israel were released. Israel then had 80 years of peace (v. 30). Then Shamgar became judge and delivered Israel by striking down the Philistines (v. 31).

When we think of the deliverer (our word for Exodus), we usually think of Jesus. These judges provide a picture of Christ coming as our Deliverer.

Judges 4:1–10: The cycle continues. Israel sinned and God gave them to the king of Canaan (vv. 1–2). Again, Israel cried out for deliverance against Sisera, the commander of the kings army, who had 900 chariots and had oppressed them for 20 years (v. 3). God raised up Deborah, a prophetess who could discern the will of God and speak it to others, as His next judge (v. 4). The Israelites would come to her for judgment (v. 5). She commanded Barak to take 10,000 Israelite troops to Mount Tabor (v. 6). God promised He would deliver Sisera, the Canaanite commander, to him (v. 7). Barak knew that Deborah was hearing from God, and he agreed to go if she went with him (v. 8). Deborah agreed to go, but told Barak he would not get the honor because God would use a woman to kill Sisera (v. 9). Barak and Deborah took 10,000 men from the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali to prepare to face Sisera’s army (v. 10).

Judges 4:11–24: They went into battle against Sisera, and God sent rains during the dry season to stop Sisera’s iron chariots due to the mud (Judges 5:4b). Sisera’s entire army was cut down by the sword. There were no survivors, except Sisera who fled from the battle. Sisera hid in the tent of Heber. While Sisera slept, Heber’s wife Jael drove a tent peg into his temple on the side of his head. When Sisera died, Israel was set free through the actions of three people—Barak, Deborah, and Jael. None of them took action because they wanted glory. Barak didn’t mind serving under female leadership or not receiving glory. He only wanted to see God set the people free. Are we willing to do what God tells us to do without receiving any glory or recognition?

CLOSING

How did Israel pass the test God gave them? God used people to do His will. Jesus has set us free. I believe God is calling us to be the deliverers in our communities and across the nation.