“So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer…”
The Lord is compassionate and merciful toward His people. But He is also a God who disciplines and corrects His people whenever they go astray (Heb. 12:6). God’s purpose in correction is to draw His people back to Himself; for the Lord knows that the only place of safety in a dark and hostile world is with Him!
Throughout the book of Judges, the examples of God’s chastening and correction are vividly illustrated. It is important to note what moved the heart of God to deliver His people. It only happened when His people became desperate enough to cry out to Him in humility, brokenness, and genuine repentance! There is something about crying out to the Lord in desperation that touches His heart in a special way!
This crying out was not simply the making of a lot of noise. No. This crying out was born in the heart in response to the realization that their only hope was in God! It came out of a Holy conviction of sin, resulting in humility, brokenness, and repentance before God. Only then did they cry out to the Lord! And only then did He answer!
When the Lord saw the genuineness of their heart before Him, He was moved with compassion for them! Only then did He deliver them from their oppression! It is interesting to note that He could have delivered them at any time. But in this case, He waited 18 years! Why so long? Because He was waiting for His people to become so desperate in their situation that they would cry out to Him in sincere humility, brokenness, and repentance. Only then would the Lord bring about their deliverance. In reality, the length of time they remained in their difficult circumstances depended on them, not God!
Could it be that one of the reasons we have not yet seen revival in our community and nation is because we have not yet become desperate enough to cry out to God in genuine humility, brokenness and repentance?
Rev.. James W. Black