Day 1: Disobedience and Defeat

Today's verses are from Judges 2: 6-12. 


Story: The Israelites have Joshua as their leader and they all serve God, reverence who He is and know of all the things that He's done for them throughout the years and for their ancestors. But, when Joshua son of Nun dies, the new generation grows up without this knowledge and basically disregard all the things that have been done before them; they start worshipping Baals.


Verse: "They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the Lord to anger..." vs. 12. 


Thoughts: I know a bit about the Israelites and where they've come from and all the far out things they did when disobeying God. It was like a cycle for them. They would complain in the desert. God would punish them, then they would say "Oh God, we are so sorry! We'll worship you and only you forever!" Give them two weeks (maybe more. maybe less) and their right back to where they started. Eventually they made it to the Promised Land and they still had issues with trusting God and letting Him take control! Then they get punished. Every single time they do this, they know that they are provoking God to anger...and so do I. The other day, I did something I know (and knew) I shouldn't have. Then, I realized that I should probably ask for forgiveness. I did, but I felt really bad about it: ashamed if you will. I didn't feel like obeying God and coming to Him. And I see how I am comparable to the Israelites, which is really bad rep. Being comparable to the Israelites.


Well, I have to go now, but I guess what I'm taking with me today is that 1) God is a forgiving God (He hasn't smited me) and 2) My sins cause Him grief.