The Fade to Refusal

Judges 2

Joshua is now gone to be with the Lord and the people of Israel are now faced with completing the extermination of the “ites” and inhabitants of the land in which the Lord has given them.  Verse 10 says “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what He had done for Israel.” 

In chapter 1 we read how most of the tribes of Israel settled in the land the Lord gave them but did not remove completely the inhabitants of the land.  This was not what the Lord had said to do.  If you remember, Moses was told by God to remind the people of what the Lord had done in Egypt for His people and do it often.  Here in chapter 2 are the steps the Israelites took to what I am calling “The Slow Fade to Refusal”.  

1.  They did not completely obey the Lord in removing all the inhabitants of the land including their gods. 

2.  That generation did not tell their kids about all the Lord had done back in Egypt.

3.  After growing up not knowing anything about the Lord they did evil in the sight of the Lord by serving Baal and other gods of the people that they were suppose to drive out. (verse 11-12)

4.  Because of this the Lord was not with them in battle (verse 15)

5.  So the Lord raised up Judges but they did not listen to them and disobeyed the judges the Lord had set up.  They prostituted themselves to other gods and quickly turned from the ways of their ancestors.  (verse 16-18)  

6.  After the judges died they turned back to evil ways even more corrupt than their ancestors. 

7.  “They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways” (verse 19)

8.  “I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep them way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.” (verse 19)

We have all been in place where it seems as if everything is against us.  We can’t get a break and we are just exhausted.  The slow fade to refusal begins with forgetting about God in your life.  It is perpetuated by stepping further away from the Lord in your life by adopting practices that do not glorify the Lord in your every day life.  Then you find out your every day battles seem to be bigger than you can win.  It is emboldened when authority figures in your life seem to be pointing towards God, but you refuse to listen by loving this world and its lusts. 

You finally arrive at “Refusal.”  This is when you finally give authority the finger and refuse to give up the ways that are turning your focus away from God.  After all that, the Lord releases you to your efforts and uses them to test your resolve.  This is not a fun place to be.  If this sounds like your life or a part of it, you ended up here by not reflecting on what Christ has done in your life to begin with.  God will never leave you nor forsake you so once you have put up the final battle against your circumstances, humble yourself and ask God for help.  2 Corinthians 6:2 says “For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.”  He is waiting.