EHUD A Man of Faith and Courage

MANY years had passed since the Israelites set foot  in the Promised Land. Moses and his successor, Joshua, had long been dead.  In the absence of such men of faith, appreciation for pure worship  plummeted.  The Israelites had even begun to serve the Baals and the sacred poles.  As a result, Jehovah gave his people into the hands of the Syrians for eight years.  Then the Israelites cried out to God for help. Mercifully, he listened, Jehovah raised up a judge, Othniel, to deliver His people. -Judges 3:7-11. 

Those events should have taught the Israelites a basic truth-obedience to Jehovah brings blessings, whereas disobedience results in maledictions.  (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)  However, the people of Israel failed to learn this lesson. After a 40-year period of peace, they again abandoned pure worship. -Judges 3:12. 

Next time: Overtaken by Moab

From the Watchtower magazine, 1997