Yet again we find Israel turning away to other gods and yet again they are oppressed. We should note that each time Israel is oppressed after turning away from God, their oppression goes on a long time before they cry out to God. On this occasion it went on for 18 years. It was 20 years of oppression before God raised up Deborah and 18 years before Ehud. You would think that the people would wake up to themselves earlier, but it is never a small matter for people to want to be dependent on God. It is highly probable that during these periods the people were trying to set themselves free. But it was always to no avail. It was only when they came to the end of themselves that they cried out to God. The most important thing in life is to know that you need God, that is, to feel that need. The best thing that could happen to you if you are drifting away from God right now is for you to feel the deep pain of your empty soul without God. I often pray for people who are walking away from God that they would feel the deep sadness of their alienation from him. For it is only when we feel our emptiness that we can be filled. It is only when we sense our need of God that we can receive from God. The Israelites in these stories only experienced God’s powerful saving hand when they got to that point of utter desperation. May you always be desperate for God.
Ask God to enable you to feel the extent of your emptiness without him.
Read Judges 10
