Don't Turn Away

So today, I sat down and I read the book of judges in my Bible. At first, I was having a hard time understanding how much God was allowing his people to be enslaved to other tribes and clans such as the Philistines, and allowing them to have such hardships...but as I continued to read, the Lord laid on my heart that he actually did that BECAUSE he loved the Israelites NOT because he hated them...Israel had turned away from the one true GOD, and worshiped false gods of wood and stone...they had completely hardened their hearts towards him...so the Lord allowed them to be turned over to idol worshiping tribes, this in return brought the Israelites to a place of feeling worthless, and helpless...in their desperation they turned from their wicked ways, and came running back into their daddy's (God's) arms...This reminds me a lot of a little child and his parents...when a child is mis-behaving, his parents will usually give him a consequence to redirect him, and get him back on track...as we get older our parents are not always there to redirect us...it is then that we have life itself, constantly reminding us of how much we need a loving Savior...I am yet so young in life, and already my sinful nature has been a constant reminder of how much I m need of a Savior!!...Praise Jesus for taking the time to bring his people back under his love and protection...Amen