15: They repented for the first time, But... (Judges 10:1 – 18)

They repented before the Lord, but He was not willing to deliver them because He knew their irresistible tendency toward idol worship.

Read Judges 10:1 - 18

Q1. After the death of Abimelech, Tola rose up to (             ) Israel and (         ) Israel for 23 years. After him, (             ) rose up and (           ) Israel for 22 years. The towns he and his sons ruled were collectively called (                   ). Both (          ) and were buried in their hometowns.

After the death of Abimelech, Tola rose up to ( deliver ) Israel and ( led ) Israel for 23 years. After him, ( Jair  ) rose up and (  led  ) Israel for 22 years. The towns he and his sons ruled were collectively called ( Havvoth Jair ). Both ( died ) and were buried in their hometowns.

They "rose up." While there is no explicit mention that the Lord appointed them as judges, this does not necessarily mean they assumed leadership on their own. 

Tola appears to have risen to deliver Israel during a time of oppression and then continued in the office of judge (i.e., to lead). However, no act of deliverance is recorded for Jair. It’s possible that he served as a judge during a time of peace. His actions in verse 4 are reminiscent of what Gideon did—did he perhaps seek to establish a kind of kingdom called "Havvoth Jair"?

Q2. What was the evil that the Israelites did in the Lord’s sight? 

To worship other gods.

Viewing the Book of Judges as God’s ongoing effort to deliver His people from sin and idolatry provides deep theological insights. It reveals God’s faithfulness toward humanity, even amid repeated unfaithfulness, as shown through the recurring cycle of sin and mercy. God’s goal goes beyond physical rescue—like the deliverance from Egypt—to the spiritual deliverance from the bondage of sin and death. 

How could the Lord accomplish that goal through unfaithful humans? Through the death of the flesh, which is unfaithful, and the outpouring of God’s Spirit. Samson foreshadows God’s ultimate deliverance on the cross.

Q3. For the first time, they confessed their sins. However, God was not willing to save. What was God’s response? (v11-14)

You abandoned me and worshipped other gods even after I delivered you. Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen!

Q4. What would make the Lord decide to deliver Israel? 

He could not see Israel suffer anymore. His compassion. 

Throwing away their idols showed that their repentance was genuine. But they will sin again because of their love for the blessings that other gods offered. They were unable to do so despite their willingness. Even though the Lord knew they would sin again, He chose to deliver them because of His compassion for Israel.

The Lord decided to deliver them despite their irresistible inclination toward the gods of this world, mainly wealth and desires, because of His compassion for them. Otherwise, they would have been completely destroyed, as their inner sinfulness was incurable. He knew that suffering would not fix their inner sinfulness but would only restrain them from excessive indulgence in it. The Lord chose to postpone the judgment of their inner sinfulness until Christ paid it fully on the cross. (Rom 3:25)

Do not think you are eligible for salvation because you have repented from your heart. Salvation is not compensation for repentance; it is grace.