SATURDAY March 2, 2019

Forsaking God

“When Jacob had gone into Egypt, and your fathers cried out to the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. And when they forgot the Lord their God, He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Maob; and they fought against them.”
1 Samuel 12:8-9

The prophet Samuel retold Israel’s history. Israel had constantly forsaken God.  He heard their cries when they became slaves in Egypt.  God sent Moses to deliver them. Through His faithful servant Moses, God did many wonders. He delivered His people so they could worship Him.

The book of Judges says, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera (Judges 4:1-2). When Israel cried out, God used Deborah and Barak to deliver His people. God fought against Sisera by using the forces of nature, the stars from heaven, and He overflowed the River Kishon (Judges 4:4-23; Judges 5).

Samuel wanted Israel to know God had not forgotten about them; Israel was guilty for forsaking their God. God had warned them over and over again, until finally, His chastisement and judgment came upon them. God used heathen nations to chastise Israel. Only then did they remember God and cry out to Him to save them. Yet this sinful cycle continued, and God’s people experienced defeat after defeat because of their disobedience.

Have you forgotten God, His past deliverances, and have you strayed away from Him?  Are you now living a life of disobedience?  God, in His love, will get your attention by allowing trials in your life. He desires to have restored fellowship with you. Forsake your sin and obey the Lord.

It is indeed the enemy of our souls who makes us forget that we are never at the end of God’s love.
~A.W. Tozer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!