Judges 2:16-3:8
Then the Lord raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers. 2:16
Whenever the Lord raise up a judge over Israel, he was with the judge and rescue the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the Lord took pity on his people, who are burdened by oppression and suffering. But when the judge died, the people return to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. 2:18-19
Back in Joshua 15:63, I wondered why the tribe of Judah couldn’t drive out the Jebusites. However, I’m learned in Judges 2:22-23 the reason why is because God allowed some nations to continue to occupy the land as a test to see who Israel would worship. I love finding answers to my own questions!
For those who say God doesn’t show up in their life, I would question how would they know if they don’t know God, or how he works. He shows up even in the lives of unbelievers, but they don’t see it, because they don’t know him. The Old Testament is full of stories of when God ALLOWED good fortune to fall on Israel’s enemies.