How can we seek God's favor in challenging circumstances, as seen in Judges 2:15? Setting the scene “Wherever the Israelites went out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring disaster, just as He had sworn to them. So they were greatly distressed.” (Judges 2:15) Israel’s misery was not random; it sprang from covenant unfaithfulness (vv. 11-14). God’s “hand” opposed them because they had first turned their backs on Him. The passage teaches that divine favor is directly tied to loyal obedience. When life feels hostile, the surest way forward is not to fight circumstances but to realign with the Lord. What went wrong for Israel • Forgetting the Lord’s works (Judges 2:10) • Serving the Baals (2:11-13) • Breaking covenant commands they had sworn to keep (Deuteronomy 6:10-15) Because God is faithful to His Word, their breach triggered the consequences He had clearly promised (Leviticus 26:17; Deuteronomy 28:15-25). Lessons for seeking God’s favor today 1. Recognize the link between obedience and blessing. – “If you fully obey the LORD your God…all these blessings will come upon you.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2) 2. Humbly acknowledge sin when conviction comes. – “I acknowledged my sin to You… and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5) 3. Return to the Lord without delay. – “Come, let us return to the LORD.” (Hosea 6:1) 4. Trust His covenant mercy. – “The LORD was moved to pity by their groaning.” (Judges 2:18) 5. Walk in renewed obedience. – “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22) Practical steps in challenging seasons • Invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24). • Confess specific sins immediately (1 John 1:9). • Re-immerse yourself in Scripture; obey the next command you read. • Praise God for His steadfast love even before circumstances change (Habakkuk 3:17-19). • Surround yourself with believers who will speak truth and encourage obedience (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Serve someone in need; faith expresses itself through love (Galatians 5:6). Promises to anchor your hope • “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.” (Psalm 34:18) • “He gives more grace.” (James 4:6) • “Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:10) • “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) Encouragement for the journey Israel’s distress was the doorway to deliverance once they cried out. In the same way, any hardship that presses us back to wholehearted devotion becomes a path to blessing. Obey promptly, repent quickly, trust fully, and watch the hand of the Lord move from resistance to favor. |
    |