The First Judges (Judges 3:7-31)
Read & Discuss
In 1998, five countries worked together launching the International Space Station. It orbits Earth and collects data – more than 15 times per day over these 27 years. Talk about going around in circles! After Joshua died, the Israelites forgot about the wonderful works God had done. They turned away from God, sinned, then cried out “God save us!” God sent a judge to deliver His people, but the cycle of sin kept going around and around. The Israelites had consequences for sins, and we do as well. But God sent Jesus, the Perfect Deliverer to save us from our sins once and for all.
Activity
Take the family to pick up litter in a nearby park or along a neighborhood road. Talk about how the area will be littered again and need another cleanup. Judges could only bring temporary relief from sin’s consequences, but Jesus completely defeated sin, bringing us forgiveness and total deliverance!
Memory Verse
Write out 2 Chronicles 7:14 each night at mealtime and say: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Prayer
Confessing sin means to agree with God and repent to Him about our sin, and turn away from it. When you pray, confess sins and thank God for His forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Ask God to grow you in obedience to His Word.