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R³ Devotional - Day 90

R³ Devotional - Day 90 Judges Chapters 3-5

By: Kathryn Heacker

I find it profound that Judges 3:2 reveals God's purpose in testing the Israelites: "he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience." This shows how God may allow us to face battles specifically to strengthen us. By the conclusion of this section in Judges 6:31, we read the powerful declaration: "So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength."

Between these verses unfolds a recurring cycle: the Israelites falling into sin, experiencing the consequences of their disobedience, crying out to God, receiving divine deliverance, and enjoying periods of peace—typically lasting 40 or 80 years—until they once again turned from God and repeated the pattern.
Real: Life Principles
  • The Cycle of Sin: We are just like the Israelites in our human nature to repeatedly forget that our sins carry consequences that lead to suffering.

  • Battles for God's Glory: Like the Israelites, when we surrender our struggles to God, He transforms them for His glory—causing His enemies to perish while those who love Him rise in strength like the morning sun like it says in 6:31.

  • God's Faithful Deliverance: Despite the Israelites' persistent unfaithfulness, God consistently raised up judges to deliver them—demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His people.

Relevant: Life Applications
  • Learning from History: We must learn from the Israelites' example—recognizing the turmoil caused by turning away from God and never taking His deliverance for granted.

  • Confidence in God's Deliverance: We should keep faith in God's deliverance, knowing that even when we stray, we can always return to Him—just as He repeatedly delivered the Israelites.

  • God’s Redemption: We can take comfort knowing God's redemptive plan has been fulfilled through Jesus Christ, who conquered sin's power by His death and resurrection. Our part is simply to turn to Him.

Ready: Life Action Steps
  • Trust: If you're battling difficulties now, trust that God has a plan to deliver and strengthen you—not to harm you but to prosper you (Jeremiah 29:11).

  • Turn: No matter how far you've strayed in sin, it's never too late to turn back to Christ—or to turn to Him for the first time.

  • Take Joy: God's redemption plan was “finished” (John 19:30) when Jesus died and rose again. Life is hard, but true and lasting joy is found in Him alone.

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