Introduction

• Hebrews 11:32-34

God cares about each one of us.

• Judges 12:8-15 – Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon
• John 20:30-31; 21:25
• Jonah 4:11
• Genesis 1:16 – “… He made the stars also.”
• Luke 12:6-7 – God knows the number of hairs on your head. You are valuable to Him!
• God loves each one of us!

Humans repeat mistakes.

• Judges 2:16
• The judges may have been local leaders.
• The time periods of the judges may have overlapped.

There was a lot of peace.

• Oppression: 114 years
• Rest: 296 years
• Judges 3:30 – 80 years of peace. Some of the people living during this time may have known nothing other than peace!

The cycle of sin continued.

• Judges 10:1-5
• Ecclesiastes 1:4-9
• The cycle:
  • Sin: Judges 3:7
  • Oppression: Judges 3:8
  • Cries to God: Judges 3:9
  • Judge to deliver: Judges 3:9-10
  • Period of rest and peace: Judges 3:11
• God is a god of grace!
• What problem can God not help with?
• I John 4:14; 1:9

Strength comes through struggle.

• Judges 2:20-3:4 – God left these nations on purpose to test the Israelites.
• Judges 3:31 – Shamgar; more struggle, more fighting
• II Corinthians 12:7-9 – God allowed Paul to have a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble.
• II Timothy 3:11; 4:14-18
• James 1:2-4