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by Jason DeZurik

“When the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept.” (Judges 2:4)

As we continue in our look at the book of Judges, especially verse 4 in chapter 2, the following text in Titus came to mind: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:11-12).

In our society today, just like back in the days of the Judges, people do things that are against God. As we go through this incredible book of the Bible, we believe you may notice many similarities to today. What I am talking about is doing God’s will or going your own way. Oh sure, things back in Old Testament times were different than today, but I think if you are open to seeing the truth, that the heart of human beings really hasn’t changed all that much. Many of us are still very selfish and impatient people who still want our way over God’s way.

This really is nothing new. The one thing that does stay consistent through all of this is God’s natural law, which He put into place from the beginning of time.

When we go our own way, natural consequences to our decisions inevitably will take place. Sometimes they build up and take a while for us to see these consequences come to fruition. Other times we see immediate consequences to our sinful actions. In God’s incredible love for us, many times he will offer grace. Other times, we will need to deal with a consequence and either learn from it or keep going down the path of sin to deal with more and more complex consequences in the process.  This too though, like it or not, is God’s grace offered up to us.

Just because you may feel sorry for what you did doesn’t mean the consequences of your actions will necessarily will go away. They may seem like they go away, but generally you have in a sense earned what you have sown into.  On the flip side, if you choose to go God’s way and not your own, your life will not necessarily be easier, but you will have a peace that passes all understanding and you will not be anxious or worry about anything. That is a huge benefit of choosing to sow into God’s ways and not your own. Obeying God’s will can reap you benefits that you never even knew existed until you’ve chosen to go his way consistently. You can also reap major consequences for going your own way that you never knew existed until it may be too late. This brings us to lifting your voices and weeping from our verse in Judges.

Even if you confess, ask for forgiveness of your sin, and repent (go God’s way), you’ll still usually get a consequence. Strangely enough, this is a part of God’s grace. “How?” you may ask. Well, Scripture is clear that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  Just like God gave Adam and Eve grace in the Garden of Eden, so God gives us grace in allowing us to grow and mature in Him through learning in and through these natural consequences and benefits. He desires to not just know us but he desires for us to know him. In knowing him, we will want to stop ungodliness and worldly passions in our own lives and to live out his ways in self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.

I encourage you to call out to God and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit this day.

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