To get an understanding of the book of Judges, it is important to first understand the relationship between Moses and Joshua and how their distinct personalities set the tone for their leadership styles and set the tone for what was to come following their deaths.
Moses was passionate and impulsive. Moses saw someone in Joshua that he could pour his life into. Maybe it was because he struggled with feeling as if he fit in with others. After all, he was ‘adopted’ at birth. He was a Hebrew in Egypt. He struggled with his past failures and didn’t have anyone to ‘encourage him’ or motivate him. He was a foreigner in his land of birth and a foreigner to his fellow Hebrews. He was a foreigner in Midian. Who was he and what was he?
Speaking of his failures, in Exodus 2 we are told about how he killed an Egyptian for fighting with a Hebrew. The next day two Hebrews were fighting and they both chastised him for killing the Egyptian. We also know how he got angry quite often and broke the original tablets, as well as striking the rock in Numbers 20 instead of speaking to it.
The rock was symbolic of Jesus. In Exodus 17, God told him to strike the rock for water and he did. In Numbers 20, God told him to speak to the rock for the water to come forth. Instead, the Bible tells us that Moses struck the rock 2 times. God was not please with this and barred him from the Promised Land.----this is symbolic of Christ being struck (beaten) one time for our sins. After that, we are to talk to Him and His Rivers of Living Water will flow for us. If God allowed Moses to carry on, it would show disobedience to God and also would give the impression that we are to ‘work’ for the Living Waters when in reality, it is freely given to us when we ask.
We also know that Moses dealt with inadequacies that included…
1. Not feeling as if he was important enough
2. Feeling as if he lacked necessary qualities such as speaking
3. Having doubts about what God can do through him
4. Feeling so minimal that he had nothing to offer and wanting God to send someone else for him
5. Delaying a move of God because of his fears
6. Causing God to ‘redo’ something such as the 10 commandment tablets because of his anger and inability to maintain self-control
Yet he was a ‘Man of God’ according to Joshua 14:6 and a ‘Friend of God’ in Exodus 33:11.
…Moses saw something in Joshua. He saw promise and potential. He saw eagerness to learn and a willingness to obey. He intentionally poured his life into Joshua, entrusting him with responsibility and preparing him for service.
From the moment in Exodus 17 that Moses chose Joshua to the Israelite army into battle against the Amalekites (Ex. 17:8-16), we can see Moses intentionally developing Joshua into a leader.
As a matter of fact, Joshua was with Moses when he went up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments from God in Exodus 24:13. He watched Moses lose his cool (righteous anger) when Moses smashed the two tablets (Ex 32:17-19). He got to spiritually witness the holy communion that Moses shared with the Lord as Joshua guarded the tent of meeting (Ex 33:11). Moses sent Joshua to scout the Land of Cannan when they were on their way to possess the promised land (Numbers 13:8).
Moses had done a great job of building Joshua up to take over the lead when he would eventually pass on. Sadly, despite all his military prowess and his incredible faith. Despite his understanding of what it takes to lead, he dropped the ball. There is no biblical record of Joshua investing in the life of anyone else and mentoring them to become the next leader for Israel.
HE DIDN’T HAVE A SUCCESSOR. Was this a failure on Joshua’s part? Was this a failure on Moses’s part to not teach Joshua how to develop leaders? Was this just simply how God wanted it to go?
Sadly, this resulted in some horrible results for Israel. As we study the book of Judges, we are going to read about multiple victories, multiple failures, multiple ways that the leaders failed the people and led them to destruction. We are also going to see how when men and women of God don’t stand up for what it important and what is right, evil men and women will step up and destruction will come the way of the people.
***It can easily be summed up in a few separate scriptures…
Judges 1:1 -- Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord, saying, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”
Judges 2:10-- All that generation(Joshua’s generation) also were gathered to their fathers; and another generation rose up after them who did not know the Lord, nor even the work which He had done for Israel.
Judges 21:25 -- In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
From these 3 verses, we see that there was no one willing to take charge and be the spiritual and battle leader that the people needed. There was no one to hold them accountable (WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT). They began to forget who God was (JUST ONE GENERATION LATER) and forget all that he had done. This led them to do what was right in their own eyes.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR LEADERS TO TAKE CHARGE AND ALSO TO INVEST IN OTHERS? Very important.
During this time period, there is great apostasy (or the abandonment of God) much like what we are seeing in the United States today.
• More and more people are staying home from church and not gathering together
• Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and in the USA.
• Secularism is the fastest growing ‘belief system’ in the USA
• Conservative Christian values are on a decline among ‘church goers’
There was political and religious turmoil much like in the United States today.
• Look no further than the debate about the separation of Church and State
• Look no further than the political candidates endorsed by ‘progressive’ ‘Christian’ churches
There was fighting amongst each other instead of coming together that was often due to the inadequate leadership and (sometimes intentionally done) much like in the United States today. The tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin were nearly wiped out.
• Look no further than racial divides
• Look no further than the GREAT DEBATE about whether to vax or not and whether to mask or not
There was a pattern of behavior in Judges that revolved around rebellion through idolatry and disbelief, then came judgement through oppression, then a leader or judge was raised up for a short time, the people repented and turned back to God. They would serve God for a while and then return to their sin and the cycle would start over. This cycle would go on for nearly 350 years. Some of the most graphic, violent, and disturbing scenes are found in this book.
THE MAIN MESSAGE? SIN WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED. When we forsake the covenant that God has established, He disciplines us. When we follow false Gods and false teachings, when we disobey and neglect the sacrificial laws (the whole sacrificial system established by God in the Old Testament set the stage for the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect sacrifice God would provide as atonement for our sins), when we engage and encourage immorality, when we allow ourselves to be influenced by unbelievers and false theology.
Yet God still would hear their cries for mercy and would raise up leaders to deliver them from oppression and lead them to God. Sadly though, despite the Judges leadership, the nation would fall right back into wickedness. We see man’s depravity and darkness, but we also see GOD'S SPECTACULAR LIGHT SHINE THROUGH THE DARKNESS.
The Judges that God would raise up were supernaturally inspired by God and given strength to lead during times of moral decay and great apostasy. They were surrounded by people who lived in the most terrible immorality and idolatry; there were constant dangers to their walking with God. The people intermingled with the Canaanites who were mainly focused on three things: money, sex, and having a relationship with God on my terms instead of God's terms.
CONCLUSION
I want to challenge you today. I want to challenge you to take a deep look at your lives. We are currently fasting. Some may be fasting entire days or meals, and others may be fasting from certain types of food. Some may be simply abstaining from things. The point is, take this time to look deeply at yourselves.
1. Are you in a spot of apostasy where you have found yourself denying God? Maybe you have been doing this by forgetting that He is everywhere. Maybe you have been doing this by rejecting his mercy and grace in your lives.
2. Are you finding yourself disassociating from other believers? Maybe it is because of great guilt on your part. Or maybe it is because you are not as close to God as you should be.
3. Are you finding yourself getting caught up in false theology and doctrines? Remember…scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. If it isn’t in the Bible or can’t be backed up by the Bible, throw it out.
4. Are you finding yourself fighting with your brothers and sisters in Christ?
It is time to get things right. Take this week to review these questions. Seek God. Journal, or write your thoughts and desires down. Maybe you can’t find the words to say to God during prayer, so begin to write them down. Make a list of the ways that you are not honoring God.
