REBELLION AGAINST GOD

An angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim and spoke God's words to the people,  "I took you out of Egypt, and brought you to a land which I swore to your fathers.  I will never break my covenant with you.  Do not make a league with the inhabitants of this land; throw down their altars, but you did not obey My voice: Why have you done this?  Now I will not drive the people of the land out from before you because you did not listen to my voice.  They will be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you."  When the angel of the LORD spoke these words, the Children of Israel lifted up their voices and wept, and called that place Bochim and they sacrificed there unto the LORD there.

         
When Joshua led the Children of Israel into the promised land, he sent every man to his inheritance to possess land.  The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders that out lived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD that the LORD had done for Israel.  Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died being a hundred and ten (110) years old.  The people buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres in the mount of Ephraim on the northside of the hill Gaash.

After all of that generation were gathered unto their fathers (died) there arose another generation which knew not the LORD, nor the works which He had done for Israel.  They did evil in the sight of the LORD and served Baalim.  They forsook the LORD God of their fathers and followed other gods, the gods of the people who were around them and bowed down to them.  (In Joshua's time the LORD warned the people not to follow after the gods of those around them.)  They served Baal and Asharoth.  This angered the LORD to anger and He was hot against Israel because they did not listen to His voice, so He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them.  He sold them out into the hands of their enemies.  The people could no longer stand up to their enemies.  Yet they would not listen to their judges.  They quickly turned out of the way of their fathers which obeyed the commandments of the LORD.  

After the death of Joshua and that generation, the LORD raised up judges, He was with the judges and delivered the people out of the hands of their enemies all the days of the judges.  The people began to groan about their enemies and how they were pressed and vexed by them.  The LORD repented, but when the judges died, the people returned and became more corrupt, following other gods and served and bowed down to them.  The people never ceased from following other gods and their stubborn ways, so the anger of the LORD was hot-against Israel once more.  He told them because of their transgressions against HIS covenant and not listening to His voice, He would no longer drive out your enemies before them.  The LORD stopped saving the people as he had before.  He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the hands of the Children of Ammon.  

For eighteen years the children of Israel were vexed and depressed that were on the other side of Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.  The Children of Israel cried to the LORD and the LORD said to them, Didn't I deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon and from the Philistines?  I delivered you out of many of the hands of your enemies, yet you have forsaken me and served other gods:  I will no longer deliver you.  Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen, let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.  The children of Israel repented, we have sinned:  do to us what seems good to you, deliver us now only, we pray, this day.  They put away their strange gods, and served the LORD:  His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.  Then the children of Ammon were gathered together and camped in Mizpeh.  The people and princes of Gilead said to one another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the Children of Ammon?  He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

God forgave the children of Israel time and time and time again.  The children turned their backs on God time and time and time again, but seemed to lose faith when times became rough.  What a sad situation.  God continued to forgive them to the very end.  Even after the children were scattered to the four corners of the earth, God stood faithful.  He never turned away from protecting His people who serve HIM.  He will never turn his back on us, his people of today.  We will never be alone, we will never be without a Savior on this earth.  We need to look forward to the return of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and hold on to the Hope of a new life.

This article was written using the KJV Bible and in the Book of Judges Chapters 8-10. by Connie Johnston James January of 2026.  Connie was raised in the COG7 from birth.  Her and her husband Rick, live in the small town of Inola, Oklahoma just about 15 miles from Claremore where they attend the COG7.  The pastor is Elder Barry Mauldin. 

*Starlight*


  

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