Scripture Daily

Context No. 2906 of 4322 · Judges

Context · Reflection

Judges 6:1-6: in context

1The children of Israel did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, so the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made themselves the dens which are in the mountains, the caves, and the strongholds. 3So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east came up against them. 4They encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep, ox, or donkey. 5For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it. 6Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to the LORD.

Israel does evil, and God gives them into the hand of Midian for seven years. The oppression is so severe that Israel hides in mountain dens and caves. Each harvest the Midianites and their allies sweep in like locusts, too many to count, with their camels and livestock, and strip the land bare, leaving no crop, no sheep, no ox. Israel is brought very low, and at last they cry out to the LORD.

This is the familiar cycle of Judges: sin, oppression, a desperate cry, deliverance. Notice the pattern in Israel's own heart. Only when they are brought very low, robbed of everything, cowering in caves, do they finally turn and cry to God. Comfort had let them forget him; devastation drives them back. It is a sobering picture of how often we seek God only after everything else has failed, and a quiet mercy that he still hears the cry that hardship finally forces out of us.

Does it take being brought very low before I cry out to God, and can I learn to seek him before the caves?

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