My Testimonies and Learnings

Testimony #3

Judges 1-13

I'm done reading Judges Chapter 1 to 13. Basically tomorrow ay sa 14 na ako.

While reading these chapters, di ko maiwasang sabihin na "ano ba yan!" Ako na mismo ung nainis sa mga Israelites kasi sumasamba sila sa ibang diyos diyosan and kapag naaapi sila or their lives were miserable, saka pa sila manghihingi ng tulong kay God at magbalik-loob.

The story goes like this. Sa Judges 1 palang, sinabi na doon na namatay na si Joshua the son of Nun. (Last chapter of Joshua book is ung death niya and Judges ang sumunod). Si Joshua ung pumalit kay Moses nang namatay siya. So bale si Joshua the son of Nun na ung nag-lead ng mga Israelites.

So dahil wala na si Joshua, nagtatanong ang mga Israelites if sino ang maglilead sa kanila. So pinili ni Lord si Judah. They attacked the Canaanites and Perezzites. So dahil the Lord was with them, nanalo sila.

So maraming naging leader ang mga Israelites kasi nangamatay na 'yong pinili ni Lord. Then it came to the generation na di na nila kilala si Lord and what He has done to their ancestors. So they worshipped other gods (Baals and Ashtoreths). Sila yong kinikilalang diyos ng Sidon, Aram, ng mga Philistine and Ammonites.

Nagalit si God kasi sinira ng mga Israelites ang covenant ni God and the ancestors of Israelites (sila Abraham, Isaac, Jacob).

To make this story short, there were wars between the Israelites and other tribes or kingdoms. Because God was angry with Israelites, hinayaan niyang mapasailalim ang mga Israelites sa mga Philistine, Canaanites and others. Kasi it's God's test if the Israelites will turn back to Him. They were under slavery, cruelty or tyranny. But whenever they cried out to God, pinapakinggan sila ni Lord. Si God na mismo ang gagawa ng paraan to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. Natatapos ang war and they will live in peace. Tapos babalik na naman sila sa kasalanan. Sasamba na naman sila sa ibang diyos diyosan. (Baals and Ashtoreths) magagalit na naman si God kasi nga the Israelites forsook and forget God. Kaya under the enemies na naman sila. Paulit ulit nalang ganoon. Na they turned to God then gagawa na naman ng kasalanan.

I realized wala akong pinagkaiba sa mga Israelites na tumatakbo lang kay God kapag naaapi ako or if I feel miserable. Na madali akong makalimot kay God if things are out of control or kapag naeenjoy ko ung "makamundong kasiyahan".  Pero you know, I am so amazed how faithful our God is. Na sa kabila ng pag iiwan natin sa Kanya, nandito pa rin Siya para satin. Handa pa rin Niya tayong tanggapin at kalimutan ung nagawa nating kasalanan.

But diba it's a shame that we are the same with Israelites na tatakbo lang pabalik kay God kasi di na nila kaya ung pain and suffering? They were still taking advantage of God's goodness.

Sometimes we blame God for our misery but the truth is tayo ung gumagawa ng mga bagay na ikakapahamak natin. Tapos saka lang tayo tatawag kay God kapag di na natin kaya and kapag maayos na ulit ung buhay natin, tatalikod na naman tayo sa Kanya. Kakalimutan natin na para bang wala Siyang ginawang mabuti sa atin.

It's a shame. We people are naturally shameless. Ayaw natin na tinitake tayo for granted but the truth is we also take God for granted kasi He loves us. Parang nagiging normal na lang satin na magkasala kasi "tao lang tayo".

But remember, God is a God of justice. He loves us but He also disciplines. And when He disciplines, it's painful. Kasi we have to learn from our mistakes. We have to face the consequences of our sins.

Prayer:

Father God in heaven, we praise you for your unfailing love and grace. Maraming salamat dahil sa kabila ng pagiging makasalanan namin ay tinanggap Niyo pa rin kami at kinalimutan ang nagawang kasalanan. We are sorry, God, for being like those Israelites na tatakbo lang Sa Iyo kapag things are out of control and when life is beautiful again, kinakalimutan Ka namin and we live according to our own will.

Lord, today we accept you as our God and we decide to follow your will and to make You our God, the same God of Israel who brought them out of Egypt. Help us to let go of the things na hindi nakakapagbigay honor and glory sa Iyo. Teach us how to be humble and change our hearts, oh Lord God. May you find grace and favor on us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen!