Some People Hate The Truth

Each generation must decide for themselves whether they will serve God or not.  Forty years after Barak and Deborah defeated the Canaanites, another generation turned away from God, and Israel was invaded by the Midianites and Amalekites, whose only purpose was to destroy the Israelites, as Judges 6:3-5 tells us.  “And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.  For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.”  We see the same attitude toward Israel today by descendants of these same peoples.  When they turned to god, he sent them another Judge, named Gideon. 

One of the reasons God had stopped blessing Israel vs because they had started worshipping other gods.  If God was to bless them, they needed to stop worshipping those other gods.  That was the first assignment Gideon was given, in Judges 6:25-27.  “ And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.  Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.”

Even those who are not deeply into their religion tend to get very defensive when their beliefs and practices are questioned.  Fearing the people’s reaction, Gideon waited until everyone was asleep to follow God’s command.  The next morning, when they found out what he had done, they were very upset, according to Judges 6:28-30.  “And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.  And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.  Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.”

Obeying God frequently brings us into conflict with those who do not worship him.  Mankind as a whole has chosen to reject God, substituting other things for him, as Romans 1:21-23 states.  “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”  As a result they have rejected the principles and standards He has set, and they resent being reminded how foolish and wicked they are.  The world hates Christ because, as he said in John 7:7, “…me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”  Christians are hated because they remind the unbelievers of Christ.  John 16:2 warns, “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”  They become so caught up in their own beliefs they think they are doing the world a favor by killing Christians. 

When the people demanded that Gideon be put to death, his father pointed out that if their beliefs were true, they wouldn’t need to destroy people who disagreed, in Judges 6:31-32.  “And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.”  If something is true, it will still be true whether people believe it or not.  If people have to destroy or kill those who have a different opinion or belief, it indicates they are afraid to let people find out whether it is true or not, whether we are talking about human caused climate change, Islam or some other religion,  or about a political party or system.  We mustn’t allow them to prevent us from finding out the truth and acting on it.

 

Don’t Let Other People’s Opinion Determine God’s Will

Though Shamgar had stopped the Philistine invasion of Israel, Israel had steadily turned further from God and things continued to get worse, as we see in Judges 5:6-8.  “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.  The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.  They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?” 

In Shamgar’s day there had been bands of raiders or robbers so that the people didn’t dare travel the main roads, sticking to the less traveled roads in hopes of not being attacked.  People were afraid to stay in the small farming villages, moving to the larger towns for protection.  By the time Deborah began to judge Israel they had turned to other gods, and the attacks were even on the fortified cities, and Israel was running out of weapons to defend themselves.  There were a large number of men who wanted to defend Israel, but none of them were willing to take the leadership, as Judges 5:9-11 tells us.  “My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.  Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.  They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.” Since none of the men had stepped forward, God awakened Deborah to the need and she convinced Barak to follow what God was leading him to do, as Judges 5:12 tells us.  “Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. “

When Barak stepped forward with Deborah’s support there were a lot of people who stepped up as well, from every walk of life and from different tribes.  Judges 5:13-15a tells us, “Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.  Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.  And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley.”

There were also a lot of people who did not show up.   The tribe of Reuben spent a great deal of time discussing whether they should leave their herds or not, as we see in Judges 5:15b-17.  “For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.  Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.  Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.”  The people in Gilead counted on the Jordan River to keep the enemies away, while Dan was too caught up in their sea going businesses and the tribe of Asher was too busy trading and fishing along the coast to be concerned about what was happening. 

Today, a lot churches are depending on having one hundred percent of the people support an idea as proof it is what God wants.   God frequently asks us to do things other people think are foolish or unnecessary.  Barak and Deborah went ahead without most of the nation of Israel’s support, as we see in Judges 5:18.  “Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.”  Thanks to God’s help, they were victorious even though nt everyone helped ut as Judges 5:19-22 states.  “The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.  They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.  The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.  Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the prancings, the prancings of their mighty ones.”

When we are truly following the Spirit’s leadership we will accomplish God’s purpose whether anyone supports us or not.  When we demand one hundred percent backing before we start, we are allowing the most unspiritual person to dictate what the church does.  God is able to deal with those who refuse to follow him.  Meroz was a near by town who knew what was going on and refused to get involved.  Judges 5:23 condemns them for that failure,  “Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.”  Today, nothing remains to indicate where Meroz was located.   

God Delivers Israel Again

Ehud had had a huge impact on Israel, and they had peace for eighty years, but Judges 4:1 tells us, “And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.”  Shamgar followed Ehud, and temporarily postponed judgement, stopping the Philistine invasion before it made much headway, but the turning away continued until God allowed them to be conquered again, as Judges 4:2-3 tells us.  “And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.”

This time it took twenty years before Israel finally acknowledged they needed the Lord and turned back to him again.  This time, God was using a woman to judge Israel, pointing them back to what God said, as Judges 4:4-7 describes.  “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.  And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?  And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.” 

God had directed Barak to lead an attack on the Canaanite forces, promising to give him the victory.  Barak had not obeyed, so God sent Deborah to assure him it was God’s will.  Even then, Barak was afraid to go unless Deborah would go along and hold his hand, as Judges 4:8 says.  “And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.” 

She agreed to go with him but warned he would not receive the credit or respect he should have had as a result, in Judges 4:9-10.  “And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.  And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.”  It reflects poorly on the spiritual state of a church when the men God has called will not trust him enough step up and a woman is forced to take the leadership. 

God had promised to Give Barak the victory, and as Judges 4:14-16 tells us, the victory was complete.  “And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.  And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.  But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.”

It was obvious to the Canaanite general that they were going to be defeated and killed, so he deserted the army and fled on foot.  Judges 4:17-22 describes what happened to him.  “Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.  And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.

And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.  Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.  And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.” 

While he was sleeping, Jael drove a tent stake through his head and into the ground, killing him.  As a result, she would get the credit for the defeat of the Canaanites, even though Barak had led the army and killed all the Canaanites.  The victory was absolute as Judges 4:23-24 tells us.  “So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.  And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.”

Rinse and Repeat

Over the years, I have seen a number of parents who put their children in a Christian school to keep them away from temptation, in the belief they would learn to be strong Christians.  Sooner or later they graduate or are forced to leave than environment, and many times when they are thrust into the day to day world, those kids turn out to be completely unprepared to deal with the temptations around them despite the sincere, well intentioned teaching they have had.  Children need to be exposed to things that are wrong in a controlled environment so that they can develop and awareness of the danger and consequences of their actions, while under the guidance of mature parents or teachers so they learn to make proper decisions for themselves, because one day, they will not have anyone to guide them. 

God had left various other groups among the Israelites to prove them, literally to test their development and commitment to the Lord.  When they turned away and got into trouble, and turned back to God he bailed them out and gave a judge named Othniel to guide them for several years.  As long as Othniel was there to guide them, they did pretty well, but eventually Othniel died.  Judges 3:11-14 tells us what happened.  “And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.   And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.  And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.  So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.” 

The older people remembered what happened when they turned away from God, but forty eight years after they had been conquered by Cushanrishathaim, most of the older people had died, and the new generation repeated their parent’s mistakes.  As a result, they were conquered by the Moabites under Eglon.  While I am sure they had heard their parents talk about it, it didn’t seem to relate directly to them so the younger generation didn’t take it seriously.  This time it took them eighteen years before they finally decided something had to be done and turned back to God. 

Even though it fook them far longer to yield to God, God was still waiting to deliver then as Judges 3:15 tells us.  “But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded:…”   God would use Ehud to deliver them destroy the power of the Moabites for years to come, as Judges 3:29-30 tells us.  “And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.  So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.” 

This time made a greater impression on the people and they were more determined not to let down on their commitment to God, doing a better Job of teaching their children so that they had peace for eighty years.  Eventually, the younger generation began to go along with the other religious groups and God began to allow the Philistines to make raids on Israel.  There were enough of the people who wanted to serve God to call on the Lord before the Philistines were able to take over.  God sent a judge by the name of Shamgar, to stop the Philistine invasion before it really got started, in Judges 3:31.  “And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.”   We don’t know whether Shamgar judged during or after the eighty years, or how long they served the Lord after his victory, but we do know that the trend of turning away from the Lord continued despite his delivering them from the Philistines.    

Each generation has to make their own decision as to whether they will serve the Lord or not.  Albert Einstein is quoted as saying that doing the same thing and expecting different results is a sure sign of insanity.  If we want something to turn out differently, we must do things differently.  We can’t just polish it up and do the same thing again. 

Spiritual Therapy

For years, I worked as plumber, crawling under houses, into attics, and on top of roofs to install or repair plumbing and heating systems.  Recently, I went to help a family repair a frozen water line under their trailer, and was amazed at how hard it was to do what I used to do without even thinking about it.    It tested my strength in ways it had not been tested for years, making me aware of how much I had allowed my strength to deteriorate and forcing me to address that weakness.  Unfortunately, the same thing can happen to people spiritually because they don’t have to exercise their faith regularly.   We need something to challenge our faith periodically to help keep our faith strong. 

In an effort to keep Israel strong, God had left various groups of unbelievers among them to test their faith, as we see in Judges 3:1-4.  “Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.   And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.” 

While working as a plumber, I had to exercise those muscles every day, and while they were fighting to take over the Land, Israel had had to exercise their faith regularly.  Unfortunately, when I quit working as a plumber, it was easy to just not exercise those muscles, changing the way I did things to adjust as they became weaker.  Our society has developed a great many devices to help strengthen those who find certain things difficult.  Unfortunately, in many cases rather than using them to regain their strength, many people simply become dependent on the devices, and allow their strength to continue to deteriorate.  That is what happened to Israel spiritually in Judges 3:5-7.  “And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.  And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.”

It is frustrating to watch comparatively young healthy people riding the electric carts into Walmart because they have not developed enough strength to walk the full distance.  Sometimes you wish you could take away all those carts and force them to get up and walk.  God got frustrated with Israel, selling them into slavery to force them to turn back and trust him, as Judges 3:8 tells us.  “Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.”  It took eight years before Israel got frustrated enough to make the effort to turn back to God. 

Like a person who has gotten so weak they can’t do what needs to be done and goes to the doctor for help, Israel finally called on the Lord for deliverance.  When they finally did, he sent them a judge to act much like a physical therapist, to help and guide them in their recovery.  Judges 3:9-11 describes this.  “And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.  And the spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.  And the land had rest forty years.”

As long as they are under the guidance of a physical therapist, most people will continue to regain their strength, and much of their former ability and will be able to function for many years in the future.  Similarly, as long as they had the Judge there to push them to continue to follow the Lord, Israel grew spiritually stronger.  The results would be felt for forty years. 

Sometimes we get frustrated as Christians, because we have such constant struggles.  Many times those struggles are deliberately to test our strength and force us to exercise our faith so that we can become stronger, just as God’s leaving their enemies tested Israel’s faith.  James 1:2-4 commands, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”  While it may be frustrating to have to deal with the trials, God is using them to make you stronger.  If you refuse to cooperate, you will never become as strong as you should be.

People Have To Learn To Choose For Themselves

Though their parents had served God devotedly, and they had heard the stories about God’s protection and experienced the blessings, the next generation was not as conscious of his working, and their children were even less so.  As a result, Judges 2:10-13 tells us, “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.  And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.  And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.”

The younger generations knew about the Lord, but they didn’t know him personally, and thus had no commitment to him.  The ceremonies and rituals of the religions of other groups seemed more exciting and satisfying so they began to adopt the practices and beliefs of those other groups along with their worship of God.  Gradually the focus changed and the other religious beliefs and practices replaced what their old beliefs. 

Israel had covenanted or contracted with God that they would not worship any other deities.  This new generation had broken their contract.  Judges 2:14-15 tells us, “And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.  Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.”  Because they had broken their contract with God, he was angry and refused to bless them as he had promised.  In fact, he penalized them for their failure to fulfil the contract much like a modern day contract provides penalties if one of the parties fails to fulfil their contract.   

God did not want to end the contract, so he sent representatives to remind them of their responsibilities and try to work the problems out, and Israel would take action while his representatives were there, but stop as soon as there was no one to enforce their compliance, as Judges 2:16-19 tells us.  “Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.  And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.

And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.  And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.”  When they were fulfilling their covenant, God blessed them, repeatedly bailing them out and helping them fulfill their part. 

Eventually God got tired of bailing them out and decided they would have to stand on their own.  He quit trying to prevent them from coming in contact with temptation, forcing them to make their own decision, as we see in Judges 2:21.  “And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.  Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.”

One of the biggest mistakes we can make as parents is never letting our children make their own decisions and protecting them from the consequences.  As a result, they never learn that there are consequences to their actions, either good or bad.  They don’t understand that God will bless obedience or punish disobedience, and see no value in serving him.

A Generation That Doesn’t Know God

The people who had grown up during the forty years in the wilderness, and those who had grown up during the occupation of the Promised Land Had seen God’s power and how it affected them.  as a result, they had no problem making the commitment Joshua asked them to make in Joshua 24, as Judges 2:7 tells us.  “And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.”  Their faith was based on their own experience with God, not just on Joshua’s words.  Joshua’s death did not change their commitment or their faith. 

No matter how great a leader may be or his staff, sooner or later age or death forces them to step down.  One day Joshua and those who had made that commitment all died, as we see in Judges 2:8-10.  “And Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.  And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.  And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.” 

The next generation got to enjoy the benefits of what God had done for Israel in Joshua’s day, but they had not had to struggle for those things.  While they had heard the stories about God’s power and his actions on their behalf, they had not experienced them personally, and their knowledge of God was purely theoretical.   They no longer had the same commitment to God their parents had had.  As a result, Judges 2:11-13 tells us, “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.  And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.”  Because they had no deep commitment to God, the younger generation readily adopted the morals and beliefs of the people around them.   

Today, we see many who profess to be Christians but have adopted the moral standards or religious beliefs of other religions or philosophies because like the new generation in Judges, they have no personal experience of God’s having worked in their lives.  They have an intellectual belief in God, but no real commitment to him.   Sadly, many preachers and churches have ignored the fact that salvation requires more than an intellectual belief in Christ.   James 2:19-20 addresses this fact.  “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”  Only a fool says there is no God.  Even Satan and the demons believe there is a God and are afraid of his judgment, but simply believing in God is not enough.  If that belief does not result in action it is a dead and worthless faith.  Saving faith will result in a sincere commitment to Christ, not just saying you believe or repeating some words after the preacher.    

Without a clear understanding of who God is and who Christ is, how can a person make a sincere commitment?   Even winning people to Christ requires their understanding more than what most soul winning programs explain.  Such programs only work when the person knows more than is presented in the script.  When they do not, there can be no real commitment to Christ, because they have nothing to base a commitment on.  Any profession they make is similar to the people who came out of Egypt simply because they hoped to escape slavery, but had no commitment to God.  Far too often they are the children or grandchildren of dedicated Christians.