The Choice, The Consequences And The Cry (Judg. 6:1-6) (Part 2)

The second thing I want you to notice is the CONSEQUENCES from that choice.  There were three major consequences to the people's choice.  The first major consequence of the people's choice was DOMINATION.  “...and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian seven years” (Judg. 6:1b).  God temporarily withdrew His protection, but He didn't relinquish responsibility, love or calling.  Why did God withdraw His protection? Was He being cruel?  Much later, Jesus would state it this way: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other” (Mt. 6:24).  When the people refused to serve and obey God they, by default, were agreeing to serve someone else.

The second major consequence of the people's choice was DEVASTATION. ^“The power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. For it was when Israel had sown, that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the sons of the east and go against them. So they would camp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey. For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it.” (Judg. 6:2-5).  These devastated people were overwhelmed, overcome, outnumbered and outcast.  That sounds grim, doesn't it?

The third major consequence of the people's choice was DESPERATION. “So Israel was brought very low because of Midian...” (Judg. 6:6a).  The King James Version says the people were “greatly impoverished.”  The idea behind the Hebrew is that they were exhausted.  Ignoring God's instructions to pursue what we think is better always leaves us weary, worn and spent.  We began as princes and ended up as victims who are tired – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually tired.  Isn't it time to come back to God?

Domination, devastation, desperation – Things looked bleak, no doubt, but the story didn't end there. There was still a spark of hope!  Tune in for tomorrow's post.