Israel And God Are Having Some Relationship Issues
- Tola, son of Puah and grandson of Dodo, judged Israel for 23 years.
- After him, Jair judges Israel for 22 years.
- When he dies, you can bet your bottom dollar that Israel starts worshiping the gods of Syria, and of Zidon, and Moab, and the Philistines.
- Israel spends 18 years under the oppression of the Philistines and the Ammonites, after which they cry unto the Lord for help.
- But whoa, wait a second, God says, "I delivered you from everyone and their grandma, and you still forgot about me. Well, this time you're on your own" (see KJV 10:11-13).
- In fact, he says, "Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation" (KJV 10:14). It sounds like God's pretty serious this time.
- Israel says, "We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day" (KJV 10:15).
- "And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel" (KJV 10:16).
- Meanwhile, the Ammonites are gathering an army to attack Israel.