Israel Disobeys the LORD

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Eschatology

Israel Disobeys the LORD

Judges 2:10-23 (NLT), After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.

The Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight and served the images of Baal. They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of those around them. And they angered the LORD. They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth. This made the LORD burn with anger against Israel, so He handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies, and they could no longer resist them. Every time Israel went out to battle, the LORD fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress.

The LORD Rescues His People

Then, the LORD raised judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers. Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods. How quickly they turned away from their ancestors’ path, who had obeyed the LORD’s commands.

Whenever the LORD raised judges over Israel, He was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. The LORD pitied his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering. But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

So the LORD burned with anger against Israel. He said, “Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands, I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the LORD as their ancestors did.” That is why the LORD left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.

In Judges, we see how God deals with a disobedient Israel, and I was wondering if the church can suffer from the same sinful ways. For example, many churches have abandoned the doctrine handed down by the apostles by accepting alternate lifestyles, even accepting those who willfully sin to hold positions of prominence, such as pastors, lay leaders, elders, deacons, and deaconesses. Accepting same-sex unions as acceptable before God, disobeying the laws of governing authorities by fighting for unlawful entry into the nation. So, I began to wonder if a church could undergo the same sort of punishment. I started considering the letters to the seven churches in Revelations, where the Lord categorizes their iniquity. Since the Lord is not appointing judges over a church, I also began to wonder if the Holy Spirit can be considered a judge since the Holy Spirit testifies of Christ Jesus and leads and guides the church in the ways of the Lord. Of course, not all the churches in Revelations chapters 2 and 3 forgot their first love and began to do other things, such as, abandoning their first love, or following after doctrines of men, or should I say, following after deceptive spirits like the Israelites in Judges chapter 2. For the most part, I think there is a parallel here, and now I’m wondering how the Lord scolds a church today.

Consider 2 Thessalonians 2:11, where God sends a powerful delusion, leading many to believe what is false. Could this be a form of punishment similar to Judges Chapter 2?

Revelation Chapter Two:

Church 1 Ephesus 

  1. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first.
  2. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

Church 2 Smyrna

  1. This church did not have any rebukes.

Church 3 Pergamum

  1. Tolerate false teachers especially Balaam who taught people to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin
  2. You have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching as Balaam.

Church 4 Thyatira

  1. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.

Revelation Chapter 3:

Church 1 Sardis

  1. A reputation for being alive—but you are dead
  2. Actions do not meet the requirements of my God.

Church 2 Philadelphia

  1. This church did not have any rebukes.

Church 3 Laodicea

  1. Neither hot nor cold
  2. But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
  3. ou say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!

Jesus tells the churches that He corrects and disciplines everyone He loves. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. Repent!

Could it be that the spiritual Israel, “the church,” is following in the footsteps of their Jewish ancestors? Could it be that the fullness of the gentile spoken of in Romans 11:25 is upon us? Could it be true that we are about to experience worldwide clamites that signal to all believers that the return of Jesus is at the door? Could it be true?

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