I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Judges 10. “And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!’ So the Lord said to the children of Israel, ‘Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites and from the people of Ammon and from the Philistines? Also the Sidonians and Amalekites and Maonites  oppressed you; and you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand. Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.’ And the children of Israel said to the Lord, ‘We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray.’ So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel” (Verses 10-16). God delivered them over, and over, and over again. Yet EVERY TIME the people sinned and turned their backs on God as though He didn’t exist. If you were God wouldn’t you be tired too? So it makes sense to me when God said, “No more, go ask your other gods to save you.” This may sound weird, but it makes God more relatable because I can understand the feeling of frustration He is feeling.  I have felt like that many times. I love that God genuinely is acquainted with our humanity, He understands. But here is the difference, God still saved them. It says His SOUL could no longer bear their misery. What a beautiful picture of a parent. Our Heavenly Father’s soul cannot bear when His children are in misery. Pay attention to this one fact, it was not until Israel put away what stood between them and God, that God relented. God is not a pushover, we have a responsibility, a part to play. Want God to stand in the gap? Come to Him with a sincere, repentant heart, putting aside what stands between you and Him.