God's Grace

Reading through Judges, I am realising afresh that God is so gracious.

To begin with, the Israelites call on God, ask him for direction and obey him - happy days! They see victory and claim their land. Then, it seems small seeds of doubt are planted as they realise that they can't overcome certain places (because of the chariots) it looks like they forget how big God really is and get a bit scared.
They also seem to get a bit comfortable as they settle in their new home, they let the previous inhabitants hang about instead of getting rid of them as God told them to. They choose to live amongst their enemies - why? Maybe they got a bit lazy, otherwise why would you want to hang around people that would do you no good? God had clearly warned Israel that if they let the other people hang around, it would be to their detriment. He told them it would cause them to lose focus and go after other things, and if they did that he wouldn't fight with them at more.
God made his expectations very clear.

You know how it is though, you may be told to do or not do something by a parent, boss or authority figure. Then, when they're not looking over your shoulder, you maybe slip up a little bit, get a bit lazy, not try so hard, maybe skip a job or two, let your language slip, maybe even hangs out with people that you' shouldn't. This is what Israel did, they didn't follow God's instructions, they carried on their own business, got a bit lazy. They didn't kick out the people they should, instead they let them stay and probably made friends with some of them. Then they began to try out what these people are up to, just like we would. We are all influenced by our surroundings and those who surround us.
It's up to us where we place the value of importance. God makes his expectations clear and he lets us know the consequences of not following them, just like he did for Israel.

So, Israel hang out with the people they should of kicked out and destroyed, and get to know what they do, start taking up their practices until there's no thought of God in their minds. He stops helping them win battles hoping they'd notice, he let people plunder them - take their stuff. He removed their protection and strength, but they carried on going in what they were getting sucked into.
The text says Israel were then, 'In terrible distress'. It doesn't say they looked to God to help, or cried out for help, but God intervened anyway by his amazing grace, by giving them judges to help govern the nation. The judges, with God's help, rescued the nation from the plunderers - but the nation still did not recognise God in it all. They carried on getting themselves into more and more trouble, sinking into depravity.

This shows me the greatness of God's grace.

He never totally gives up on his people, he gives them chance after chance after chance. He demonstrates his presence but because Israel aren't looking for it they don't see it (are you like that?). They choose to believe the stuff that surrounds them. Maybe they believe in chance, fake gods, or superstitions instead. They stubbornly believe that they are in control of their destiny, and have no regard for God, maybe no belief in him even. That hasn't stopped God giving them opportunities to see him at work though. God is not limited by our belief or unbelief. He does and will work in your lives he's full of grace. He's waiting for the moment when you discover how involved he's been.

He was clearly with Israel, even when they weren't looking for him or aware of it, God fought for them, saved them, interacted with them, sent angels to them, then eventually he left them. Not permanently, but he had to give the Israelites a chance to experience a godless life so they could see the benefit of one with God in it. When they did cry out to Him, he answered. He came, he rescued them yet again.
Don't make the mistakes Israel did. Look for the ways God is demonstrating his presence and grace in your life.