Never Worth The Exchange…

There is one truth that always rings true in life: when you abandon God, He allows the consequences of your abandonment to fully reign in your life. Here in Judges chapter 10 we see this played out. The Israelites abandoned God for the local gods of the land they inhabited. They were being oppressed, they cried out to God and God responded with, “Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them rescue you in your hour of distress”. When we abandon God, there will always be consequences. Sometimes, they are eternally determined with no hope of rescue. This doesn’t mean all instances are permanent (although many are), there is still hope of redemption when true repentance is your response. But that is God’s decision, not ours. Sometimes our decisions are so decisive, we don’t get second chances. Don’t chance your faith with a temporary fix of pleasure; it’s never worth the exchange.

The Israelites were in great distress. 10 Finally, they cried out to the Lord for help, saying, “We have sinned against You because we have abandoned You as our God and have served the images of Baal.”11 The Lord replied, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12 the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to Me for help, and I rescued you. 13 Yet you have abandoned Me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore. 14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!”15 But the Israelites pleaded with the Lord and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as You see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.” 16 Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord. And he was grieved by their misery. Judges 10:9c-16