Yet again God raised up a man to save Israel. He came from Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. Remember that Ephraim had been upset at not having been included in Gideon's army. God often chooses people who are of little account, or are from places of little account. If men despise you, do not lose heart, it is God's opinion and His favour that counts more than anything.
Tola was followed by Jair, and he appears to have been a successful leader as well. The reference to thirty sons and thirty donkeys is an indication of his wealth.
However, after this relatively long time of prosperity Israel sank back again in to her evil ways, serving foreign gods. So Israel became prey to her enemies, the Philistines and Ammonites.
Israel cried to God, but this time He rebuked them for having learnt nothing from her history, for failing to recognise the error of her ways. Israel then quickly got rid of her idols and served the Lord. God then changed His mind.
We are in a relationship with God. Any view of our relationship with God that is purely legalistic, that views it like a scientific law is seriously deficient.
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