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RUSSELL SANDERS
3-21-2022
APOSTASY
Between the time of Joshua’s death and Saul’s ascension as King of Israel, the nation was ruled by judges for over 300 years. There were some lawless periods where there was no judge in the nation.
These were not judges in our modern sense of judging the law. The term used in the Hebrew language for judge is “shophet.” It is used as a general term for a ruler. During this time period there were seven apostasies, seven servitudes and seven deliverances. The numbers three and seven have special significance relating to God.
I want to look at the fourth apostacy and the servitude it brought as found in Judges 6:1-10. Verse 1 says the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. Judges 17:6 describes these periods by saying, “In those days there was no king in Israel, (to keep law and order) but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Lawlessness prevailed. Idol worship ran rampant.
This apostacy brought servitude at the hand of the Midianites and the Amalekites and various tribes from the east. The Midianites were especially grievous. For seven years (Judges 6:1-6) they ravaged the land, stealing their food supplies and harvests. They overwhelmed Israel in great numbers. The Israelites were so terrified that they fled to the mountains to escape. Many lived in caves. They became quite impoverished. Verse 6 says they cried out to Jehovah, yet it was their idolatry that had put them into that position. They were without a leader.
Judges 6:6-10 says that as they cried to the LORD, God sent them an unnamed prophet who rebuked them for following the gods of the Amorites in direct disobedience to God. But God did hear their cry to Him. After seven years of severe judgment, he raised up Gideon to be their deliverer and judge.
How does this relate to today? The world, including America, has turned its back on Him and defied him. Even the Speaker of the House of Representatives (USA) recently rebuked Congressman Greg Steube for quoting scripture on the floor of the house. Nancy Pelosi declared “There is no room for God in this house.” (The fall of 2021.)
We shed innocent human blood through the evil sacrifice of our children in the womb. We have brought the entire homosexual agenda into the mainstream and given them privileged legal status. Our society has denied the existence of absolute moral standards in favor of “moral relativism” (right in one’s own eyes). Witchcraft is at an all-time high elevating Satan to godhood.
Just as Israel was judged by God and invaded by foreign nations, why should we not expect any less in our time? Be prepared for harsh times ahead. Yet God will hear His remnant, just as He did with Israel. But will we have a deliverer? Only God knows that.
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