I just finished reading through the book of Judges. I was emotionally exhausted, having read through the multiple times God’s people reject Him and lose their way. Ultimately, their way always ended in violence and death. 

The last verse in the book of Judges explains why such evil took place: “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

We are no different emotionally and mentally from the people who lived in that time. To do whatever seems right in our own eyes becomes the only choice we make apart from following Jesus. Human nature doesn’t change over time. We don’t evolve into goodness and right choices. 

Our choices must be examined in the light of God’s truth. We can’t go by our opinions or emotions, our own beliefs, imaginations, or philosophies. We can’t go by the leader of any nation, a political affiliation, or any group of like-minded people. 

There is much evil taking place in the world similar to the horrific events in the Book of Judges. I don’t want to close my eyes and pretend atrocities are not happening. I am purposefully welcoming exposure that the light of day is bringing to such darkness. God hates injustice. I continue to grow in what it means to hate what God hates and love what He loves.

The only way forward is to determine who is leading us. It must be the Lord who leads us every day, throughout the day. That means we are willing to live in the light of His truth and welcome the conviction of His Spirit. We will be willing to examine our choices and inquire of Him at every turn.

His leadership will always lead us away from what we have accepted as real and true and what seems right in our own eyes. His leadership will never fail us. 

When we entrust everything to Him, our faith blesses Him. Only our faith pleases Him—like a father feels when he sees his child prosper and experience peace and joy and everything that is good and right.