Everyone did as he saw fit

"In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit." - Judges 17:1

World history tells us a lot of things about us, human beings, the higher beings in the animal kingdom. The rise and fall of empires. The power struggles among nations. What happened in the past happened in our time as well. Like it or not the core of who we are is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow! We are just so inclined to look to ourselves.

I am now reading the book of Judges. Wow! U will see or rather read about the degeneration of the Israelites' moral values as they moved away from God and did as they saw fit. The atrocities that they did really disgrace the name of God.

Israelites, the chosen race that bears the name of God, forgotten their roots and the reason of their being, took things into their own hands and did things which they thought is right or benefitted themselves. A race that is supposed to be selfless became selfish. A community that is supposed to be the light for the world became a shame in the world.

Is this God's will?

I believe God's will is always for our good but He has a condition. To learn and obey His commands.

The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. - Deut 28:13

We heard of many stories of successful men and women who fell because of corruption, greed, lust, illicit affairs..etc. Embroiled themselves in sin that trapped and destroyed them. What is supposed to be freedom is actually a trap. A trap that will in the end brings us to our end if we do not leave the trap. Temptation is everywhere in our lives. Are we strong enough to withstand all these temptation?

I have to admit that we are weak. You read all these news on the papers, TV, Internet everyday. How much good news can you hear? Not much actually.

The admission of weakness is a start to be strong. When we realize our weakness, we should seek someone who is strong enough to rebuild and restore this broken down part of us, our character. This part of us that we can nuture and grow unlike the external beauty that will fade as years pass by.

For me, I'm grateful that I've found my strength in God. A personal friend who sticks by me through thick and thin. There's none like Him.

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." - Phil 4:13