“And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers… and they were in terrible distress.” 

– Samuel, The Prophet, and Judge 

*Distress - extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain. Bound, tied, constrained, restricted, hampered, controlled.  

The Passage

Judges 2:11–15, ESV  

THREE FALSE GODS OF ANCIENT ISRAEL AND MODERN-DAY AMERICA  

1. BAAL | GOD OF PROSPERITY.  

Exodus 32:1–4, Jeremiah 7:9, Judges 2:11, Judges 2:13, Judges 3:7, Judges 8:33, 2 Chronicles 33:3, Jeremiah 9:14, Hosea 2:13, Hosea 11:2, Zephaniah 1:4, Romans 11:4 

2. ASHTAROTH | GODDESS OF PLEASURE  

Judges 10:6, Judges 2:13, 1 Samuel 7:3, 1 Samuel 7:4, 1 Samuel 12:10, 1 Samuel 31:10,1 Kings 11:5, 1 Kings 11:33, 2 Kings 23:13 

3. MOLECH | GOD OF HIGH PLACES  

Jeremiah 32:35, Leviticus 18:21, Leviticus 32:35, 1 Kings 11:5–8  

SPIRITUAL WARFARE, SATAN, AND JESUS' PROMISE  

“ For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil” – The Apostle Paul 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” I have come to give life!  – Jesus 

SO WHAT MUST THE PEOPLE DO? 

“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.”  –  2 Chronicles 7:14

TALK IT OVER  

Ice Breaker – It's the first meeting. Take a minute to catch up and hear how everyone is doing. Maybe ask about one thing they loved doing over the break and one they didn't love. 

1. This message is a tough one. The book of Judges opens with their leader, Joshua, has died. It ends with everyone doing what was right in their own eyes and there was no King in the land. In between, the author covers some 300-400 years of Israel's history. They came into the land, being called to drive out the evil Canaanites. The Canaanites were actively practicing child sacrifice along with many other evils. Instead of driving them out, they intermingled and messed everything up. They went after other Gods and abandoned the LORD (Not all, but most.)   God raised Judges, 12 men, and one woman, to serve as leaders in this period. Some were good, and most were terrible. They were not civil judges in a court system as we may envision them. They were more so military leaders and truth tellers of their day. They were called to exercise God's judgment and lead his people. Later would come Kings, but for now, there were judges. Take a moment to review Judges 2:11-15, Judges 3:7–12, and Judges 21:25. Answer two questions. How did Israel disobey, and how did God discipline them? 

2. How did Israel’s problems relate to our nation? Or how could their issues relate to our own?  

3. John Winthrop was a governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Winthrop lived from 1588-1649. He was instrumental in forming the colony's government and shaping its legislative policy. He envisioned the colony, centered in present-day Boston, as a "city upon a hill" from which Puritans would spread religious righteousness throughout the world. This vision came from Matthew 5:14-16. Take a minute to read that. Also, read the sermon he delivered shortly after he arrived in Massachusetts. "For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us… But if our hearts shall turn away, so that we will not obey, but shall be seduced, and worship other Gods, our pleasure and profits, and serve them; it is propounded unto us this day, we shall surely perish.”    

4. What did the Apostle Paul prophecy about concerning the Last Days? (The Church age we are in now, awaiting the Return of Jesus Christ.)  1 Timothy 4:1 

5. What did he say about the battle we fight now? Read Ephesians 6:12. Remember what Jesus said;  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” I have come to give life!  

6. Pastor Ryan highlighted three False Gods. Take a minute to review your notes. Which one of these do you see at work in our world today? And why? (You may want to look up corresponding scriptures.) 

7. If we are honest, we can dabble in some false God's practices if we are not careful. For example, the God of Baal was the God of prosperity. You and I know we are all tempted by material possessions and a constant desire for more. This God lies by saying that you will be happy if you have all these material items! How are you guilty of this at times?   

8. Furthermore, we know it's not a sin to be wealthy. It's a sin to be greedy. All ought to be generous. Generosity isn't for the rich. It's for both the rich and the poor. How can generosity combat the monster of materialism? The False God Baal in our modern-day America.  

9. What about some of the other gods? Consider The God of Pleasure? Or the God of High Places. What can you do as a Christian? 

10. Take a few minutes to review why these passages are so relevant for us today. 2 Chronicles 7:14, 1 Timothy 2:1–5, two questions. What can we do? What does God promise to do? What's the good news?