March 19, 2012 – Judges 3

It seems like many dismiss the God of the Old Testament as meaningless or outdated, unloving and violent. Ask yourself why God left these nations in to tempt and test the Israelites. Why wouldn’t He just erase them all and let Israel live in peace. I think it is a fair question and one that should be reflected on, but before to dismiss the God of the Old, ask yourself a follow up question. If you got a high school degree but were never required to take a test, do you think that degree means anything. If you went to a Dr. and saw their degree, but they told you that they graduated without taking a single test, would you use them as a Dr. Of course not. Just because you listen to something or read it and even if you think you know everything, we are not considered to really grasp it until we are tested. Is God any different. Israel knew the law, they said they would follow it, but God wanted to test them to see if they really would follow, and they failed, over and over. We may ask God why this happened in our lives or what this was for, maybe God is testing you. If you have read the materials, understand what is being asked, are following God’s commands, you should be able to pass the test. If you are focused on yourself, ignore God’s law, live for the world, chances are you are not prepared for the exam and will likely fail. GOOD NEWS is that according the parable of the workers (the ones that get asked to work last get the same wage as those that worked all day) if you don’t study but pull and all night cram session, there is hope of passing the test. But isn’t it always better to learn along the way, study as your taught and not to procrastinate. What if it is a pop quiz that comes at an unexpected time. You do not know the hour.