Understanding God’s Love Through Israel’s Struggles

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 

Hi Friend, 

Why is it that the Children of Israel simply do not listen? They did it again during this morning’s bible reading. They started serving other gods. And believe me, you, I can relate. If I could, I would raise my arm to point right at them, like, I see you. But, I think to myself, how many times before God puts the smackdown on them? And then, I had a moment. Suddenly, I was no longer looking at their behavior (and also my own), but instead, I started to focus on his. At this point, I would be more surprised if they actually stopped serving other gods than I am at them choosing gods outside of him. It’s kind of sad that I’m no longer shocked by their disobedience, as well as no longer shocked by my own. But, I was very, and I mean very, intrigued by his. 

“And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘We have sinned against you, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!’ So the Lord said to the children of Israel, ‘Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from Amorites and from the people of Ammon and from the Phillistines also the Sidonians and Amalekites and Maonites oppressed you; and you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand. Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress” (Judges 10:10-14, NKJV). 

Seven! He delivered them from seven different people. And his response cracks me up for some reason (like, ohhhh you in trouble), or at least it did until I imagined him saying the same thing to me (because I am just as guilty.) “Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.” I mean, if that isn’t a mic drop moment, I don’t know what is. I imagine the screeching sound of the mic’s feedback piercing the air as it lay there at Jesus’ feet and me standing there looking like a deer in headlights. And honestly, I would deserve it. Every last bit of it. 

“And the children of Israel said to the Lord, ‘We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to you; only deliver us this day, we pray.’ So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord. And his soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel” (Judges 10:14-15, NKJV). His soul could no longer endure the misery of his people. Can you imagine that? I imagine myself responding as the children of Israel did. “Only deliver us this day, we pray!” I imagine myself saying, “I know I keep choosing other gods, but save me just one more time, will ya?” Yikes, the audacity was my first thought, but then, it only takes a second to realize ya, same. I do the exact same thing. Guilty as charged. But when I reflect on his response, I am completely blinded by his love for his people. His soul could no longer endure. And I imagine myself being the source of his pain. And I will be honest, I never ever want to make him feel that way, even though I probably do, way more than I can count. 

Fortunately, I’m reminded that it’s his loving kindness that brings us to a place of repentance. And that’s ultimately where I find myself. Right, smack in the midst of his loving-kindness because I, too, like the children of Israel, want to put away the foreign gods that I allow to take residency in my heart and serve him. May he lovingly reveal to us exactly who and what they are so that we can send them off, far, far away! And suddenly, I realized that my mom might be one. Thoughts of her consume me. And every time I send her away, just like a boomerang, she comes right back, just like an idol. I couldn’t be more grateful for the revelation. And even more so, for the following scripture; “Know that he Lord, he is God; It is he who has made us, and not we ourselves, we are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3, NKJV). It’s precisely what I needed. A reminder from him that I am his responsibility, he made me, and that he will lead. And in this season, I know it’s what I needed because I felt the sigh of relief come from deep within my core, just as I did when Dr. M said the same. “I will be responsible for your treatment plan. You don’t need to do a thing,” she said. 

And maybe thats the takeaway. Jesus is ready and willing to take responsibility for our treatment plans. And just like with her, we don’t need to do a thing outside of choosing him and trusting him to lead. 

Suddenly, I heard the infamous line from Aladdin. 

“Do you trust me?”

I’m here with you, friend, 

iK