An Implacable Enemy. Judges 6:1-10 The Israelites had forty years of rest, but sadly, each generation must learn for themselves the consequences of ignoring God, rebelling against Him, and the results that come from continuing in sin. In previous cycles of the children of Israel falling into sin, they usually followed the same pattern of turning away. There was a decline in faithfulness to God that led them to compromise.
Compromise causes a decline in spiritual living, leading people to become comfortable with sin. This decline results in apostasy when individuals turn away from God and begin to justify their wrongful actions, thinking they alone can decide which parts of God's word to obey and which to ignore. Such decay and apostasy lead to failure in the Christian life because the standard of righteousness no longer effectively guides the believer. The Spirit of God has been grieved and quenched, weakening our defenses against the enemy and leaving us vulnerable to their oppression. But we can thank God that through genuine repentance and sincere turning to Him, He offers deliverance. In the case of the children of Israel, God raised up judges who served as heroes of faith.
Othniel, the ideal judge, speaks of the defeat of the world, Chushanrishathaim. Shamgar was the pilgrim and stranger judge. Ehud, the diplomatic judge, speaks of the defeat of the flesh, Moab/Eglon. Deborah, the eloquent judge, along with Barak and Jael, speak of the defeat of the devil, Canaan. Now, we face a new enemy, Midian (strife). The Midianites were a tribe of nomads who lived in the desert and had to raid other tribes to get what they needed to sustain their way of life. They domesticated camels and used them extensively, enabling long-distance raids. Midian was one of the sons of Abraham by Keturah (Gen. 25:1). He had five sons. The Midianites were also joined by the Amalekites, descendants of Esau.
Even though relatives may share close bonds, "strife" can still happen. When we drift away from God and act independently of His revealed will, strife might be God's way of disciplining us to steer us back from the path of turning away. Sometimes, even if no one around us notices and we maintain the outward appearance of being who we are supposed to be, we forget the Lord in our hearts. Strife creates a barrier of silence, separation, suspicion, and whispering instead of friendship, confidence, freedom, and openness. Instead of "loving one another with a pure heart fervently," we find ourselves "biting and devouring one another."
The Midianites were described as "as grasshoppers." Grasshoppers symbolize both their sheer numbers and their destructive power. They were everywhere, consuming everything in their path. Strife operates similarly. It can spread quickly from one conversation to another; before long, the entire community of God's people becomes divided. Midian entered the land "to destroy it," not merely to take its wealth. They aimed for nothing less than the complete destruction of God's testimony through His people. Israel was "greatly impoverished." They lost their freedom (v.2), even to live in their own homes, resorting to hiding places just to survive. The people of God lost their fruitfulness (vs. 3,4) due to the ravages of strife and its associated issues. They even lost their food (v.4) to the grasping hands of strife, which claimed their very source of survival.
There had always been conflict between Midian and Israel. Israel nearly annihilated the Midianites in an earlier battle, but now they had repopulated and regrouped. Strife is never done with its goal of dividing, conquering, and destroying God's people. Even so, Israel as a people had to be reduced to nothing. They couldn't claim the fruit of their labor for themselves. Their homes were no longer theirs. Their only shelter was makeshift hiding places in caves and hidden shelters in the hills of Ephraim and Judah. They had to hit "rock bottom" before desperately turning to God.
When we join with those who oppose God, a time will come when we face united opposition from a coalition of evil forces that will never be satisfied until we reject God and fully align with them. When we sin, we can expect God to permit suffering and difficulties as a way to correct us and to bring about sincere repentance, not just empty words. Knowing something is wrong is one thing; truly repenting, turning away, and forsaking that sin is quite another.
So, whose fault was it that all this happened to God's people? Was it the enemy of the children of Israel who was at fault? For seven consecutive years, the enemy, Midian, was used by God to discipline His own people and their disobedience. Israel was stripped of nearly everything that could be carried away or driven off. Incomplete obedience, even when it starts out well, when left undone, leads to idolatry, intermarriage, and everyone doing "what is right in their own eyes." In this fourth downward spiral, the cycle of sin gains momentum, and the destructive effects are greater than before.
When the children of Israel cried out to God because they were "greatly impoverished," God, who knows the hearts of all men, did not send them deliverance. Instead, He sent a prophet. The prophet clearly explained why the disaster had come upon them and who was to blame in their situation. He also reminded them of the words and works of the Lord for them once again. His words repeatedly summarize God’s message to them in Exodus 36:10-16, Deuteronomy 7:1, and Judges 3:5.
To stay in fellowship with God, we must communicate with Him daily through His word and prayer. This should be a steady commitment, not an occasional act done in emergencies. When problems start to arise, instead of waiting for them to resolve or falling into despair, we need to stop immediately and turn to the Lord in confession and repentance.