Break the Cycle

June 12, 2022

This week we read Judges 1-10. This book follows the death of Joshua, who was an incredible leader who loved and followed the Lord faithfully. In this book we find the generations after Joshua living a terrible cycle of rebellion, consequence, and deliverance. The Israelites would rebel by forgetting the Lord, or worshiping other gods, which caused God’s anger. They would receive a consequence. Then they would cry out to the Lord, and he would send someone (a judge) to deliver them and they would live in peace. After time, the Israelites would repeat the cycle.

The book of Judges took place over 330 years. During that time there were 12 judges (11 men and 1 woman). The cycle happened 12 times in those 330 years.

Judges in that day were not like the judges we have today who sit in a court, listen to a trial, judge a person, and decide a verdict. The judges back then lead God’s people out of trouble through faith in the Lord.

Today, we struggle with a similar problem. The difference is that we don’t have to keep going in a cycle. We have the final and ultimate deliverer, someone who can break the cycle. No more judges are needed.

1. We rebel against God by doing things our own way. Romans 3:23 says, “we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
2. We suffer the consequences of our sin. Galatians 6:7-8 says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
3. After suffering, the Israelites cried out. Do we cry out to the Lord, or do we keep living our life the way we want? When we cry out like in 1 John 1:19, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
4. The Lord provides The Deliverer. 1 John 4:14 says, “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.” You can be saved as Romans 10:9 states, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
5. We have peace that passes understanding. Phillipians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The book of Judges shows the continued love, patience, and forgiveness that God gives his people. He does that for us today through His Son Jesus.

Do you need to break the endless cycle of sin? Cry out to Jesus!

Next week we will finish the book of Judges and read chapters 11-21. Have a blessed week.