Day 4

IDOLATRY AND DEFEAT

"And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side." Judges 8:34

G od promised to Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation (Gen. 12:2). He promised the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses (Ex. 6:8). This promise was repeated to Joshua (Joshua 1:2-5). Yet two hundred years later the children of Israel were no more than a disunited collection of tribes holding only the poorer parts of the promised land, subject to frequent attack. What had happened? Had God forgotten his promises?

In fact God was about to act to fulfil his word. The international situation was favourable. Egypt's influence over Palestine was weakened because of internal turmoil and the crisis brought about by the arrival of the 'Sea peoples' amongst whom were the Philistines. In the north the nations of Syria, Assyria and Babylon were also too preoccupied with other threats - the Arameans to take much notice of happenings in Palestine. Israel was in crisis. Many years of domination by the Philistines (Judges 10:7; 13:1) culminating in the defeat at Aphek (1 Sam. 4:10) led to a great revival in the time of Samuel (1 Sam. 2:4) and God freed his people once again (1 Sam. 7:11-14).

This time they kept faith and Israel was to be moulded into a mighty nation under Saul then David and remain independent for hundreds of years.