The Gospel According to Judges: Part 3, (Judges 2) Questions for Reflection

Dig Deeper

The first chapter of Judges looks back at the faithful example of Caleb and the the failure of each tribe to wholeheartedly obey the Lord. Chapter two begins with God confronting the Isrealites for their disobedience, “And you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars. Yet you have disobeyed Me. Why have you done this?” (Judges 2:2).

Chapter 2 ends with God explaining that He would use the nations who still remained in the land following the death of Joshua to test Israel, “I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and wlak in it as their ancestors did” (Judges 2:22). Scripture reveals that God tests His people to deterimine the genuiness of their faith. Compare Judges 2:20-3:2 with following other examples of God testing His people. What insights do these scriptures reveal as to the purpose of testing?

Job 23:10--

Exodus 16:4; 20:20 and Deuteronomy 8:2-3--

Zechariah 13:9--

1 Peter 1:7--

James 1:2-3--

What positive results of testing do you observe in the following individuals who were tested by God?

Abraham, Genesis 22:1-18--

Solomon, 2 Chronicles 1:7-12--

Hezekiah, 2 Chronicles 32:31; 2 Kings 19:14-36--

Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9--

Memorize This

James 1:2-3-- Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. NIV