READING: Judges 1:1-3:30
The Lord has a way of asking simple questions that sometimes drive deeply into our heart. In today’s reading, the angel of the Lord representing God spoke with authority to the people of God. God had promised to keep His covenant with them, and He had told them not to make any covenants with the people in the land. They chose, though, not to follow His directions. In fact, they would recurrently make that same choice throughout the book of Judges.
The simple question the angel asked the people was this: “you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this?” (Judg 2:2). The question (also understood as “what is this you have done?” in other Bible versions) was surely designed to bring the people to confession and repentance. It would force them to evaluate their own heart and admit their wrong choices.
This is a question we need to consider, too, when we fail. When we choose to go against God’s command—particularly when we do so again and again—it is right to consider the questions, “What have I done?” and “Why did I do this?” What we do is rebel against our Creator’s requirements, and why we do it is because we’re still sinners. Our only hope is a covenant-keeping God who extends mercy and grace to us.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Why do you sometimes choose to go against God’s Word?
TODAY’S PRAYER: “Lord, lead me to turn to You before I fall – to ask the question, ‘Why would I ever do this in the first place?’”
TOMORROW’S READING: Judges 3:31-6:40
