INTRODUCTION: Judges, chapter one, acts as a transition between Joshua and Judges. Chapter two of Judges introduces the pattern of disobedience, destruction, and disobedience that will be the pattern of the entire book. Israel, in the book of Judges, is a picture of the defeated, carnal Christian. They mix other gods with the true God. They follow the practices of the world. They cry out to God only when they are in great trouble.  Otherwise, they mostly ignore Him. Because of their rebellion and disobedience, they suffer a miserable existence. They are the epitome of everything God’s people should not be.

1. A MESSAGE OF WARNING FROM GOD (Judges 2:1-5 [1] And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. [2] And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? [3] Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. [4] And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. [5] And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
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1. The Appearance of the Angel of the Lord (Judges 2:1And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
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1. He comes up from Gilgal, the first headquarters for the Israelites in the land (Joshua 4:19-20 [19] And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. [20] And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
   See All...; Joshua 10:6And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
   See All..., 43; Joshua 14:6Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
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2. He must have been the angel that followed Israel (Exodus 14:19And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
   See All...; Exodus 23:20-23 [20] Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. [21] Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. [22] But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. [23] For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
   See All...; Exodus 32:34Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.
   See All...; Exodus 33:2And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
   See All...; Numbers 20:16And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:
   See All...; Isaiah 63:9In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
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3. This angel is identified in other places as the Lord (Genesis 16:7-13 [7] And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. [8] And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. [9] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. [10] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. [11] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. [12] And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. [13] And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
   See All...; Genesis 22:15-16 [15] And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, [16] And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
   See All...) and is certainly an appearance of Jesus Christ before His coming to earth as a baby.
2. The Message of the Angel (Judges 2:1-3 [1] And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. [2] And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? [3] Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
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1. God has kept His promises to Israel (Judges 2:1And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
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1. He brought them up out of Egypt.
2. He brought them unto the land of Canaan.
2. Israel has broken her promises to God (Judges 2:2And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
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3. The nations in the midst will be left as a thorn (Judges 2:3Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
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1. The nations will be as thorns.
2. The gods will be a snare.
3. The Sorrow of the Children of Israel (Judges 2:4-5 [4] And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. [5] And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
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1. They lift up their voices and weep (Judges 2:4And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
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2. They call the place Bochim which means weepers (Judges 2:5And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
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3. They sacrifice there unto the Lord (Judges 2:5And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
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2. THE PASSING OF THE RIGHTEOUS GENERATION (Judges 2:6-10 [6] And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land. [7] And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel. [8] And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. [9] And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. [10] And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
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1. The People Served God during Joshua’s Generation (Judges 2:6-7 [6] And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land. [7] And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
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1. Joshua allowed the people to begin taking their inheritance (Judges 2:6And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
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2. The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua (Judges 2:7And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
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3. The people served the Lord all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua (Judges 2:7And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
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2. Joshua Died and Was Buried (Judges 2:8-9 [8] And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. [9] And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
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1. He died at 110 years old (Judges 2:8And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
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2. They buried him in Timnathheres (Judges 2:9And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
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3. Another Generation Arose Which Knew Not the Lord (Judges 2:10And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
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1. They didn’t know the person of the Lord – “which knew not the Lord.”
2. They didn’t know the works of the Lord – “nor yet the works.”
4. NOTE: We are only one generation away from complete rejection of God and total apostasy. We must always practice Psalm 78:1-8 [1] Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. [2] I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: [3] Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. [4] We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. [5] For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: [6] That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: [7] That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: [8] And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
   See All... and 2 Timothy 2:2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
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3. THE CYCLE OF DISOBEDIENCE AND DELIVERANCE (Judges 2:11-19 [11] And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: [12] And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. [13] And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. [14] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. [15] Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. [16] Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. [17] And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. [18] And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. [19] And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
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1. The Idolatry of Israel (Judges 2:11-13 [11] And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: [12] And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. [13] And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
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1. They did evil in the sight of the Lord; that is, they mixed Baal worship with the true ceremonies (Judges 2:11And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
   See All...; Zephaniah 1:5And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
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2. They forsook the Lord God of their fathers (Judges 2:12And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
   See All...); that is, they completely left true worship and went to the gods of the land.
3. They provoked the Lord to anger (Judges 2:12And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
   See All...; Psalm 78:54-59 [54] And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. [55] He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. [56] Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: [57] But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. [58] For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. [59] When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
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4. They made a complete change in their religion (Judges 2:13And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
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2. The Judgment of the Lord (Judges 2:14-15 [14] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. [15] Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
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1. They were sold into the hands of their enemies (Judges 2:14And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
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2. The Lord’s hand was against them for evil (Judges 2:15Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
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3. They were greatly distressed in their burdens (Judges 2:15Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
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3. The Deliverance through Judges (Judges 2:16-18 [16] Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. [17] And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. [18] And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
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1. God raised up judges to deliver them (Judges 2:16Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
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2. Even in this, they continued after false gods (Judges 2:17And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.
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3. Yet, God delivered them because of their groanings (Judges 2:18And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
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4. The Return to Corruption (Judges 2:19And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
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1. The judge would die.
2. They became even worse in their sins.
4. THE NATIONS LEFT IN THE LAND (Judges 2:20-23 [20] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; [21] I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: [22] That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. [23] Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
   See All...; Judges 3:1-4 [1] Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; [2] Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; [3] Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath. [4] And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
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1. God Determined To Leave the Unconquered Nations (Judges 2:20-21 [20] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; [21] I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
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2. These Nations Were Left To Prove Israel (Judges 2:22-23 [22] That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. [23] Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
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1. The people were left to prove whether Israel would walk in the way of the Lord or not.
2. This is much like what is said about the wilderness wanderings (Deuteronomy 8:2And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
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3. Through These Nations Israel Continued To War (Judges 3:1-4 [1] Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; [2] Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; [3] Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath. [4] And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
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5. THE OPPRESSION OF MESOPOTAMIA (Judges 3:5-8 [5] And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: [6] And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. [7] And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. [8] Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
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1. The Children of Israel Dwelt among the Inhabitants of the Land (Judges 3:5And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
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2. They Intermingled with the Inhabitants of the Land (Judges 3:6And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
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1. They gave of their sons and daughters for marriage.
2. They served their gods.
3. They Did Evil in the Sight of the Lord (Judges 3:7And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
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1. They did evil in the sight of the Lord.
2. They forgat the Lord.
3. They served Baalim and the groves.
4. God Sold Them into the Hand of Mesopotamia (Judges 3:8Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
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1. The anger of the Lord was against Israel.
2. He sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia.
3. They served Chushan-rishathaim for eight years.

CONCLUSION: We stop this lesson with the oppression of the Israelites by Mesopotamia. They will be delivered in the next lesson only to fall into another disaster. They never seem to learn from their errors. There are many Christians today who live like these Israelites. They continually hurt themselves by their disobedience to the Lord, yet, they never seem to learn. You need to determine in your heart not to be one of these Christians.