“When that entire generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation arose that knew neither Adonai nor the work he had done for Israel. Then the people of Israel did what was evil from Adonai’s perspective and served the ba‘alim. They abandoned Adonai, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, selected from the gods of the peoples around them, and worshipped them; this made Adonai angry.”-Judges 21:10-12
Verses 10 through 12 express a tragedy in the making.
First, in verse 10, we’re given the phrase “the entire generation had gathered to their ancestors”.
Again, this phrase reflects how the Israelites still held to pagan ancestor worship beliefs.
Don’t even try to disagree with me on this point.
Folks back then believed that after they went to their graves, some spiritual essence of their former selves would remain in fellowship with their ancestors.
However, they only believed this was possible because they were buried in the same geographical location as their ancestors (from the line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob).
In their minds, if they were to be buried anywhere else, the physical separation would also become a spiritual separation.
Recall that’s why Jacob insisted his bones be carried back to Canaan and not be buried in Egypt.
It’s because he wanted to be buried in the same place as his kinsmen.
Onward.
Well, all I can say is WOW!
Israel fell and she fell fast.
We’re told after a mere one generation had passed from Joshua, the Israelites were…
…mixing with Canaanites…
…and…
…bowing down to Baal and Ashtoreth.
Like holy Golden Calfs man!
In a mere one generation?!?!?!
We’re told things had reached the point where the people’s knowledge of the Lord and their divine history became nothing but a faint memory.
And let’s get one thing clear here folks.
Israel couldn’t make the excuse they were uninformed and didn’t know any better.
Nope, this was a case of them making the foolish judgement that God and His commandments were no longer relevant to their lives.
Tragic indeed.
But as I’ve warned before, let’s not be judgmental.
Because Israel’s story is our story.
That’s why the history of ancient Israel is recorded in our Bibles in the first place.
Their story reflects how the whole human race has given God the middle finger.
And it all started with compromise…
…for the sake of peace…
that led to religious syncretism.
Over and out homies.
Leave a Reply