JUDGES 10

It is Tuesday this morning, and it looks like rain is coming.  Here are a few brief thoughts about Judges 10.  1) POOR TOLA- Tola was a Judge in Israel, but the poor guy is called "the son of Puah, the son of Dodo".  When I was a kid we used to say to each other when aggravated, "You Dodo".  Maybe here is where we got that phrase from.  Think about it. 2) BAD BACKSLIDDEN- In verse 6, Israel turned from serving God to serving the gods of other countries.  They served Baalim, Ashtarouth, and the gods of Syria, Zidon, Moab, Ammon, and the Philistines, but did not serve GOD!!  If serving any god as long as you are sincere worked, God would not have been mad, but it doesn't work that way! 3) WORDS VERSES ACTION- Well, sure enough when the nation of Israel started worshiping these other gods, God put them in bondage for eighteen years.  And when they were distressed enough, they cried unto the LORD.  The Lord said:  "I will deliver you no more.  God and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation."  I think that is why some Christians do not get delivered from their troubles sometimes.  BUT, then in verse 15 and 16, not only did they acknowledge their sin, but they put some action behind it!  They removed all of their gods from among them and started serving the LORD, even though God said he would not listen to them..... but...... you know God.... He has a BIG heart for us..... and when HE saw their actions..... He went about to deliver them again!!  Wow!  What a merciful God we serve!  Well, all for today.  Have a blessed day today!  Pastor Mike Mutchler