Judges 2:20-3:6 - The Lord was angry with Israel

2:20-23

“Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel”. We should be clear that the Bible is not a “pro Israel” book in the normal sense that we might interpret that. It is quite clear that Israel is a sinful people, but it is also clear that the Lord loves Israel. And this dichotomy applies to the whole of mankind, and it is the drama that applies to the whole of the Bible. How can a loving and righteous God bless a sinful people? The answer, of course, is through Jesus Christ. This last part of chapter 2 declares the judgement upon Israel. They would no longer be victorious. However, even in this there is a positive purpose for Israel. The enemies would be used to test and train the people of Israel. Most would fail the test, but some would not.

3:1-6

The chapter division seems to be in the wrong place here, as the first six verses are really part of the introduction. We get a list of the nations who were left to test the Israelites. They were used to teach warfare to the descendants of those who had experienced battle. The Lord wants us to experience troubles in our lives for a twofold reason. One, so that we can experience and know the Lord’s deliverance (i.e. it is “hands-on experience” rather than just theoretical). And secondly so that we can learn to fight. It is not God’s plan that we are merely passive recipients.

The last two verses highlight the problem. The Israelties took the daughters of the foreign nations, married them, and then served their gods. Hence all the trouble.