When God Directly Engages

Scripture: The Angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, "I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land I had promised to your fathers. I also said: I will never break My covenant with you. You are not to make a covenant with the people who are living in this land, and you are to tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed Me. What is this you have done?" Judges 2:1-2

Observation: Despite having taken and occupying the land, Israel then (mostly) fails to expel the Canaanites from their country. In response, God himself rebukes them. He speaks to them of this failure, and re-enforces the curse that these foreign people - with their foreign gods and practices - will be the source of temptation that will trap Israel and lead them away from their covenant promises.

This initial interaction is interesting in two regards. First, God travels from Gilgal to Bochim (believed to be at or near Bethel). The fact God is perceived to be in a specific place seems ... odd. Gilgal is a significant place to Israel, but why they think God lives there is not clear. Second, God speaks directly ... something he has not done since early in the wilderness when the community was afraid to hear his voice. There is no prophet, priest, judge, or intermediary mentioned here. The word of God is delivered directly and in first person by The Angel of the Lord.

Israel is failing. They are not in rebellion, but they are not fully complying either. This is, of course, just the start, and it seems minor. They have simply not driven foreigners out of the land. However, God is clear that they are not following his instructions. One would think that the appearance of God to clarify this point would have driven it home. Instead, it simply highlights the onramp to trouble.

Application: God directly engages to correct Israel. He cares enough to do this for everyone and everything. Yes, sometimes God works through others, but he also gets personally involved. This is something to look for ... along the same lines of looking for where God is at work and joining him there, I should also look for where God is personally engaging and pay attention to his instruction, correction, and teaching there.

Prayer: Lord, may I find where you are engaged today, this weekend, and every day. I do seek to join you in those situations, and to hear your teaching. May my heart be soft to receive your guidance, and not hard to resist or find the easier path. Amen.