It really does not take long, or much effort on the part of our ‘enemy’ ...for God’s people to be led astray, even if it is by a gradual ‘drifting’ (Heb. 2:1) There is a disheartening revelation shared in Judges 2:10 that tells us “when all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.” This was shortly after the death of Joshua, who had led them in to the Promise land.

One generation; that was it. I think we forget sometimes the powerful influence we have on our children...one way or another, as in for good ...or for bad. Now read those next three verses there,11-13 and make note of the turn the people took. It was not good. But now comes the important part that we need to pause and take in, maybe underline it and let this truth sink in... remembering that this is the ‘same God’ we claim to know and love today, which we talked about the past two days. We need to bridge together the OT to the NT so that we hopefully come in to a better understanding of knowing God, our creator. Sadly, most are well too familiar with the ‘goodness of God’ side that Paul mentions in Rom.11:22 ...without fully grasping and appreciating the ‘severity of God’ mentioned in the same breath there.

“And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them... into the hands of the plunderers who robbed them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around so they could no longer stand before their enemies.” (Judges 2:14)

Then, another span of time goes by and we find ourselves in chapter 6. Please read aloud to yourself, verse 1-2. Does anything stand out to you there? One more passage if you would please, and go read Nehemiah 9:23-31. Do you notice a pattern taking shape here, where disobedience prompts God to ‘hand over’ or ‘deliver’ His people...to their enemies?

This pattern of disobedience which usually led to their captivity would continue over generations, eventually culminating with the 70 years of captivity when God brought Babylon in to destroy the temple in Jerusalem and carry His people...once again into bondage. This is what Jeremiah the prophet had been declaring would happen.

So once again, I ask...’When did God change?’ Oh, you say when Jesus arrived? Now we no longer have to deal with that ‘angry, harsh God of the old testament...when we sin'? … Interesting. Would you turn to Matt. 18 and read through the parable of the unmerciful servant who after being forgiven a great debt, chose not to forgive another servant who was indebted to him. When the king/master heard of this, he was not happy and had this man brought before him. After calling him a ‘wicked servant’ (32)...would you please read vs. 34 that tells us what he did in his anger with this man. Then, Jesus, who we know as being ‘loving, kind and merciful’ (which He most certainly is) proceeds to tell us: “So my heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you from his heart does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”(35) And just to make sure you didn’t miss this...does your Bible say in vs. 34 that he ‘delivered/handed him over to the torturers/tormentors’?

Oh, but you were taught all those 'changes' after Jesus died, rose from the dead, and then returned to heaven, yes? Would you please turn to 1 Cor. 5:5 and read what Paul advised be done with this man who was practicing immorality while still doing the ‘church thing’. “Deliver (hand over)... such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Need one more reference? Take a quick look at 1 Tim. 1:18-20 and read what happened to Hymenaeus and Alexander (20)

Apparently, we still...have a hard time coming to terms with this idea...and believing that God really means what He says. Sounds like God has not changed and still to this day...He ’hands folks over to the enemy’ if they refuse to repent. (Luke 13:3,5;2 Pet. 3:9). And we didn’t even touch on the story of Ananias and his wife (Acts 5:1-11) who learned the hard way, and in dramatic fashion...that God apparently has NOT...changed ...and means what He says. Maybe that’s why Paul warns us to ‘be not deceived...for because of such things the wrath of God comes...” (Eph. 5:5-6)

So where’s the ‘good news’ in all this, you might be asking? Great question. But most don’t want to hear, let alone believe...the answer. Jesus came to set us free from sin so we could abide in Him...and ‘sin no more’. (1 John 2:6; 3:6,9; 5:18). Why did He do this? Because sin still brings death, and those who continue to live according to the flesh...will die. (Rom. 6:23; 8:13; John 5:14). Sin still ‘gives place to the enemy’ (Eph. 4:27) No...God has not changed at all, nor has His message- Gen. 2:17.

Maybe...somewhere along the way...we got ahold of ‘another gospel’ that Paul warned about in 2 Cor. 11:3-4 and Gal. 1:6-9) And just maybe...God is trying to wake us up before it’s too late.