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

Judges 3. “The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel so that He sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. But when they cried out to the Lord, He raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the Lord came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him.  So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died. Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and because they did this evil the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel” (Verses 7-12). Do you see the cycle? Israel sins, God sends a deliverer who saves them. They live in peace serving God until the Judge dies, and then they forget EVERYTHING. What?! After reading this chapter I had this thought: What is my faith based on? Israel’s faith it seemed was based on their leaders. When the leader was alive they followed God, but when he died they followed the god of whoever was closest. Their relationship with God was not RELATIONSHIP, but religion. They worshiped because that was what everyone else was doing. They served God because that was what the leader said to do. Therefore, because their faith didn’t run any deeper than that they were swayed by any and everything that caught their fancy. God does not want our religion, He wants our relationship. What’s the difference? Religion is performance based it is rules and regulations that you have to adhere to, less you be deemed less worthy. Relationship is a matter of the heart. It is not based on rules and regulation. Instead it is a desire to truly serve, to truly be a part of this friendship with God. It is a willing choice to move forward in intimate friendship. Friendship does not require the friend to always be right before your eyes for the it to last. See the difference? Israel followed rules, thus when the ruler died so did their faith. God is not looking for rule followers (although He does desire obedience), instead He is looking for heart followers. He wants relationship.