Judges 10

Leaders Prep Section

Watch this video, read these notes, and send the pre-written email (below) to your group 2-3 days before you meet.

Notes

God has limits to what he is willing to put up with. So do we, so it makes sense. But when we get to our limits, whole nations don’t suffer.

Hey Guys,

Judges 10 is going to show us some sides of God we’re not accustomed to seeing. I don’t want this part of God to be true. I want endless forgiveness. But it’s not fair to move into the future yet. We have to stick with these people…learn what they learned.

See you at Firepit.

Group Guide Starts Here

Context of scripture

Abimelech is dead and the next two judges—Tola and Jair—are hardly more than a footnote. Once again, Israel is left to her own devices. Although the fact that Israel turns to other gods is not surprising, the way God responds is.

Read Judges 10: 1-5

Tola follows Abimelech. All we know is that Tola lived, judged, died, and was buried, which suggests an uneventful twenty-two years.

Abimelech means “my father is king.” Tola means “worm.”

What does your name mean – and is there some truth to it?

What do you hope your grandchildren will be told about you?

Read Judges 10: 6-10

In Deuteronomy 7:1, God lists seven nations that he said he would clear away. These correspond exactly with the seven false gods the Israelites turn to in Judges 10. We’ve heard mention of Israel worshipping false gods before, but this is the most in-depth description of this act we see in the book of Judges.

Has there ever been a time in your life when you wanted to bail on God, church, or Christianity? What led to that time?

The Ammonites and Philistines were neighboring tribes to the east and west of Israel. Both were within 20 miles of Israel, a distance a fighting force could travel in a single day. This would explain why the Bible says they were “severely distressed.”

Are there any circumstances in your life right now that are making you rely on God more? Or are you doing pretty well right now?

Read Judges 10: 11-18

Israel’s confession starts with “We have sinned…” but they don’t ask for forgiveness, nor do they request God’s salvation at first.

Does it mean God’s love has limits when he says, “I will save you no more…go to the gods you’ve chosen; let them save you?”

Has there ever been a time you felt like you exhausted God’s patience?