-- Thursday, 7/22/10 -- THE END OF YOUR ROPE -- Judges 6:1-6

[J.R. & Bonnie Ricks]

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THE END OF YOUR ROPE -- Judges 6:1-6 NIV

 

Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.  Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country.  They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.  They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.  Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.

 

Israel was once again at the end of its rope.  This time, the last knot was being untied by the Midianites, who were so ruthless they were like "a swarm of locusts," making continual raids on the people Israel and taking everything they owned, even their food.

 

Let's look at this situation closely.  The Midianites were descendants of Abraham's second wife (Genesis 25:1-2 NIV).  Many years before Gideon, when Israel was still wandering the desert, they had battled the Midianites and nearly destroyed them (Numbers 31:1-20 NIV).  However, Israel didn't totally destroy them, so the Midianites had repopulated themselves.  Now, they were oppressing Israel to the point of starvation.

 

Why did Israel have to wait until things were a total mess to cry out to God for help?  Why do you and I do the same thing?  God tells us to pray.  He tells us to spend time with Him each and every day, getting closer to Him, learning to understand Him, so that we will know how to make wise decisions - so that we will know how to handle problems when they occur.  Throughout scripture, the problem is illustrated again and again.  Seek God first, and He will guide you through your difficulties.  Seek God last, and the whole thing could be a disaster.

 

Jesus was a perfect illustration for us of seeking God first.  He spent more hours in prayer than most of us ever notice.  Over and over again, the Word says Jesus went somewhere to be alone and pray.  He didn't pray over just the important things.  He didn't pray at the last minute after everything was falling apart.  He prayed daily.  He prayed about everything.  He prayed without ceasing.

 

How it must pain our Father in Heaven to see us missing out on the rich blessings He has for us because we're just too stubborn or too independent or too busy or too lazy or in too big a hurry to talk to Him.  How foolish we are to pass up this wonderful blessing, this ability He gave us to seek His counsel, this power He granted us to call upon Him in everything we do or say or think or feel.

 

Don't wait until you're at the end of your rope.  Talk to God first.  Seek His wisdom and His mercy and His blessings every moment of your life.

 

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

 

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