How many times do we get in trouble because of our bad decisions, and people tell us, “Well, what did you expect?”
Or “Don’t expect any sympathy from me.”
Or “Well, you got what you deserved.”
And it’s true. The Bible does say that we reap what we sow. And if we sow bad things in our lives, bad fruit will result.
In the first part of this chapter, that seems to be what God is telling the people.
The people were being oppressed by the Midianites after once again turning their backs on God. And things got so bad, they finally cried out to him, asking for his help.
And God said,
I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave you their land.
I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’
But you have not listened to me.” (Judges 6:8-10)
In other words, “Well, you got exactly what you deserved. I warned you, you ignored me, and now you’re suffering for it.”
But God didn’t leave it at that. Instead, despite their sin, he reached down to deliver them.
The Israelites didn’t deserve God’s help. He didn’t have to do anything. And yet he reached down anyway and worked to deliver them.
That’s what grace is. We deserve nothing from God. We in fact deserve hell because we’ve turned our backs on God and have gone our own way. And yet if we’ll cry out to God in our desperation, he will respond. Because he loves us.
I’m not saying that he’ll take away all the consequences of your sin. You may still have to suffer on this earth because of your bad choices.
But ultimately, if you turn to him, you can find hope despite your sufferings. Hope that though you made bad mistakes, God still loves you, and will help you through the struggles that you go through.
Have you made bad mistakes in your life? Are you suffering because of them?
Turn to God. He will forgive you. He will help you. And he will see you through. Because that’s the type of God he is.
As David and many others have written,
You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you. (Psalm 86:5)
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 