Other Judges and Ammonite oppression

Judges Chapter 10

After Abimelech's death, Tola, son of Puah and descendant of Dodo, came to rescue Israel. He was of the tribe of Issachar but lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. He was Israel's judge for 23years. After Tola came Jair from Gilead, who was judge for 22 years. His thirty sons rode around on 30 donkeys and owned 30 towns in Gilead called the Towns of Jair.

Once again the Israelites did evil in the Lord's sight by worshipping Baal, Ashtoreth and the gods Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon and Philistia. They abandoned the Lord and no longer served him at all. So the Lord was angry and handed them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites who oppressed them that year. For the next 18 years they oppressed all the Israelites east of the river Jordan and land of Gilead.

The Ammonites crossed to the west side of the Jordan river and attacked Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim and the Israelites were in great distress. Finally they cried to the Lord admitting their sins at abandoning God and serving images of Baal.

The Lord replied that he had rescued them from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, Philistines, Sidonians, Amalekites and Maonites. They oppressed you, said God, and when I rescued you, you abandoned me to serve other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore. Let your new gods rescue you, he said.

But the people of Israel pleaded with the Lord, confessed their sins and asked him to punish them as he saw fit, so long as he rescued them. Then they put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord. And he was grieved by their misery.

At that time, armies of Ammon had gathered for war and were camped in Gilead preparing to attack Israel's army at Mizpah. The leaders of Gilead said that whoever attacked the Ammonites would be first to rule over all the people in Gilead.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The first 5 verses of this chapter tell us very little about the two men, Tola and Jair, who ruled for 45 years.
Once again, the Israelites had to be oppressed to give up their sinful ways and call out to the Lord. Notice they do not call out for help to their pagan gods. They seemed to forget God when all was well. But they never failed to call for him and he never failed to rescue them.
The Ammonites were descendants of Ammon, conceived when Lot's daughter slept with her own drunk father (Genesis 19:30-38).

How does this chapter relate to us today? Do you turn to God as a last resort like the Israelites did? Do you suffer unnecessarily because you use other resources before you call on God? Don't wait to ask him for help. He loves you just as he loved the Israelite people. You are just as important to him as they. He treats us like a father treats his children, and like a father, he feels rejection when we ignore him. Stay close to your heavenly father and don't wait to turn to him. He can solve every problem. YES, EVERY ONE!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, Arlene’s nephew David, Logan and the newly born Stella who is taking mother’s milk now and Lori (who suffered a terrible accident)and her family. Update on Stella: She has good days, but is far from out of the woods. Pray for her, please and her parents too. Update on Lori - she walked out of the hospital on her own two feet which was a miracle. She continues to heal and have pain so keep praying for her.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.