Judges 3:7-8

"So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of God, and served the Baals and Asherahs.  Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years."

With Him being the creator of heaven and earth it seems a bit odd that anyone could hardly forget about God.  But people do forget about the Lord during those ancient times and even today.

The problem Israel had was that they got involved in everything that was not of the Lord and soon began to disregard His favor on their lives.  The previous context said they married their women then served other gods (Judges 3:6).  Yes, they married foreign women who did not believe what they believed and those women soon began to sway their faith.  Now note there is nothig inherently wrong with marrying a person is is from another country, different skin color or from the other side of the world.  People often use that as an excuse to promote racism and prejudice which is all unbiblical, not of Christ Jesus.  The problem was that the Israelite men would soon fall for the lies of a false religion, Baals and Asherahs, which intent  was to take them and you away from the living God.  This displease the LORD because He had already told them they should have no other gods before Him.

But your issue may not be gods of a women or man from a foreign country.  You may not fall for the deception of Islam, Buddhism, Jehovah Witnesses, Church of the Latter Day Saints or Scientology.  Your problem is you have fallen for the deception which or media pumps into your house and your head every day.  You see, the music, movies, videos, iTunes, e-mails and Facebook interactions are all innocent to you for the most part.  I say the most part because you are aware of the most blatant offenders.  But when you take all this media together and make it appear to be nice and inviting you soon discover there is no room for God.  Just like the papers or clothes you have stored away for a rainy day you soon discover there really is no room for it.  Then you know what happens.  We forget about it until the basement floods or the storage fees begin to mount up too high.  When there is a problem we remember.

The children of Israel were the same way.  They forgot about God.  They forgot that He delivered them in the past from certain death.  He delivered them from the onset of starvation and thirst.  This He did only because He loved them.  He granted them grace out of His righteousness and holiness.  But they forgot.  They stored away the loving hand of God and now a problem began.  Israel was in a tough place with the love of their life, the LORD Almighty.

What about you?  Have you forgotten about Jesus or did you ever know Him to begin with?  I mean, as soon as He answered your prayer you soon stored Him away fo another rainy day.  But the LORD loved Israel so much that He sent a deliverer to rescue them from certain death and bondage for the rest of their lives.

Well we have a deliverer today named Jesus who will rescue you from a lifelong struggle with bondage and certain death.  Some of the problems in your life may be due to the fact that you have forgotten God.  You have made excuses not to be around His people.  You refuse the necessity of praying and reading His word.  It is clear, and you know it.  You need the Deliverer.

Israel must have experienced true joy when the bondage of that nation was removed from around their neck.  Jesus will also deliver true joy to you when you run to Him and remember him, the LORD.  The LORD has not forgotten you.  He is ready today to receive you back into His arms.  No, He is nothing like you friends or family who may hold a grudge against you.  '...Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:7).  Never forget.

~Pastor David Spencer~