Midian Attacks Israel

Midian Attacks Israel – Disobedience

Bible Study Lesson — Judges 6:1-10

Again, as we see all through Judges, Israel “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” and God punished them.

In this Bible story, we’ll discover how Midian Attacks Israel because of disobedience to God – again.

Then, and only then did they turn back to God for help.

Sound familiar?

Lack of Obedience – Midian Attacks Israel

Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian seven years.

The power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.

For it was when Israel had sown, that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the sons of the east and go against them.

So they would camp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey.

For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, they would come in like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable; and they came into the land to devastate it.

So Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the Lord.

Now it came about when the sons of Israel cried to the Lord on account of Midian, that the Lord sent a prophet to the sons of Israel, and he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel,

‘It was I who brought you up from Egypt and brought you out from the house of slavery.

I delivered you from the hands of the Egyptians and from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispossessed them before you and gave you their land, and I said to you, “I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live.

But you have not obeyed Me.” – Judges 6:1-10 NASB

Who Were the Midianites?

Abraham, as you may recall from Genesis, had more than one wife. His second wife was called Keturah.

She was the mother of a group of people who lived in the desert called Midianites.

This nation was in a constant struggle with Israel who had waged total war on the tribe earlier (Numbers 31:1-20).

Act of Revenge

During the war, the soldiers failed to completely wipe out their enemy (the Midianites) and were now paying dearly for the deed.

Now, these desert people outnumbered Israel greatly and were oppressing them by destroying their crops and forcing them to hide out in caves.

In other words, the people of Israel were living in fear.

The “Last Resort” Cry

After this unbearable lifestyle went on for some time, and the Israelites just couldn’t take it anymore, they cried out to God for help.

These were God’s people! They knew they were God’s people so why didn’t they go to Him for help at the very beginning?

They could have avoided much of the agony, the fear and the tremendous suffering simply by calling out to God – why didn’t they?

Why Don’t We?

Granted, we may not have an enemy who hates us – who comes in every week to burn down our houses, kill our loved ones, and who forces us to hide out in the woods.

But, we do have troubles, don’t we?

I don’t have a clue about the kinds of challenges you are facing in life.

Some people are suffering from health issues, some grieving over lost loved ones, some without jobs or in financial binds, I just don’t know.

I do know that Scripture tells us to pray to God for help in every situation, no matter how big or small.

We are many times just like Israel in these circumstances — I mean we wait until all else fails and then we cry out to God for help.

At the Beginning

DisobedienceIf we lift up our concerns to God when we first discover something going on in our lives, we are putting the one in charge who can help.

Does this mean that our problems will all vanish?

No, but God furnishes the strength for us to get through them with the knowledge that it will work out in the end – His way.

Next Time

It might be today, it might be a year from now but you and I will come to some sort of tough situation – something too big for us to handle.

Here’s a thought: If we are going to cry out to God when we absolutely can’t take it any longer doesn’t it make sense to go ahead and ask for His help to begin with?

Love in Christ

– Bob

If you would like to discover how to receive the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to read John 3:16 here.

 

Here’s a quick video I found about Judges chapter 6 you might enjoy.

Come again soon and be sure to share this Bible lesson about the Midianites with others.

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