Review of Invasion Judges 2

Judges 2:2 "And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars; but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?"

Very often we find a question asked by the LORD for which he obviously knows the answer but it is asked to make us (people) think and remember. Adam, in the garden, was asked where he was not to inform the LORD but to inform Adam. The discussion goes on to answer the question or spell out the consequence for action or non-action.

Such is the case here. Israel was given a command and they disobeyed. Now it is payday.

v13 "And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth." The what of their actions.

v20 "And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; v21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died. The cost of their actions or inaction.

v22 'That through them I may prove Israel whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein as their fathers did keep it or not." They why of the cost.

We should take note of verse 1: "And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim and said..." I remember at the beginning of Joshua when the LORD stood with sword drawn and identified himself as the Captain of the Host. Angel is often used when the LORD appears to someone. We will see it later when Gideon is met by an angel sitting under an oak tree. Angel is used often in the Bible and sometimes it is the LORD, sometimes an actual angel.

I've noted that in Genesis (and the sin of man) there became a separation between God and man. In the Exodus the LORD led the children of Israel and it was made clear that it was Him. As we progress, as in the chapter, He appears as an angel. I find no difficulty in accepting that Jesus could do so. The angels can assume human form. It would be easy for the LORD to assume any form he wished. My point though is the separation that exist between God and man. The nation Israel has sinned in not obeying and the LORD must appear as an angel.

I do not understand this completely. I believe it is sin that prevents His presences and that the wages of sin is death. Sin would have to be judged and so out of compassion perhaps he appears as an angel so that judgment can be delayed.

Regardless we are launched into a time of a series of judges appointed to deliver Israel after they have sinned and been captured or otherwise detained by the enemy. Israel cries to the LORD and a judge is sent.

Psalms 119:28 "Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses."

keywords: Bible study, Old testament, Judges, angel, Israel, Milton Southerland