Judges 10:6–18 Repeating the Same Mistakes

Judges 10:6–18 Repeating the Same Mistakes

Introduction

Proverbs 26:11: "Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly."

A husband was tasked with hanging a new photo for the family. With good intentions, he grabbed the drill and a screw and went to the wall to hang it. He drilled into the wall—no stud. He moved over and drilled again—still no stud. This continued until he gave up. His method never changed, and so the result never did either. He never stopped to consider that he might be the problem.

This is Israel in Judges 10. After 50 years of peace and prosperity under Tola and Jair, they go right back to their old ways. The mercy, blessings, and peace of God did not satisfy their hearts enough to be faithful. The text shows us how sin always finds its way back in when people forget the God who saved them.

1. From Prosperity to Prison (Judges 10:6–9)

After decades of peace, Israel once again does what is evil in the sight of the LORD (Judges 10:6). They serve not one or two gods, but a long list from the surrounding nations. The abundance they had experienced led them not to worship, but to complacency and idolatry.

This is not unusual in the history of God’s people. In Deuteronomy 32:15–18, God warned that once Israel had grown “fat, stout, and sleek,” they would forsake Him. That’s exactly what happens here. The result? Bondage. The LORD sells them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites, and they are “crushed and oppressed” for eighteen years (Judges 10:8).

Prosperity can be dangerous when it produces self-reliance, entitlement, or spiritual apathy. If your joy and peace are based on what you have rather than who has you, you’ll always fall away.

2. Fruit from the Garden They Planted (Judges 10:10–16)

Israel finally cries out. But the LORD’s response is shocking: “I will save you no more” (Judges 10:13). Why? Because their cries had become mechanical. They cried in pain, but they never repented in faith. They had returned again to the same gods from which God had already saved them (Judges 10:11–12).

This is what sin does. It dulls the heart until we no longer realize how far we’ve gone. But even here, a glimmer of grace breaks through. When they put away their idols and serve the LORD, He becomes “impatient over the misery of Israel” (Judges 10:16). He is not indifferent. He is moved to mercy—but not cheaply. True repentance isn’t just regret or confession; it’s a turning away from the worship of false gods and a return to covenant obedience (Ezekiel 18:30–32).

For believers today, this doesn’t mean that God will forsake us in the same way. Under the law, Israel’s blessings were conditional on obedience. Under grace, we are God’s adopted children, and His discipline trains us for holiness (Hebrews 12:3–11). But the warning remains: the longer you resist correction, the more your heart may harden. There is a time when the opportunity for mercy runs out—either at death or through full abandonment to sin (Romans 1:24–28).

3. No Hope (Judges 10:17–18)

Even after repentance, Israel is left with a practical problem: they have no leader. “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites?” (Judges 10:18). They had repented, they had returned, but they were still leaderless. There was no savior—yet.

This moment is heartbreaking and hopeful. Heartbreaking because sin had left them defenseless. Hopeful because, unlike them, we know who our Savior is. When we are without direction, Jesus stands as our great High Priest (Hebrews 7:23–25). When we are desperate for peace, He has already made it by the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:19–20).

Conclusion

  • Why return to the things that enslaved you?
  • You will reap the results of what you invest—whether in sin or in worship.
  • The mercy of God is available, but it is not to be taken for granted.
  • Jesus stands ready to intercede for His people. Let that truth lead you to repent and believe again today.

Scripture References

  • Judges 10:6–18 – Israel’s repeated cycle of sin, oppression, and desperate repentance.
  • Deuteronomy 31:19–22 – A prophetic warning that Israel would grow fat and forget God.
  • Deuteronomy 32:15–18 – Jeshurun (Israel) grew complacent and abandoned the Rock of salvation.
  • Judges 10:11–12 – God reminds them of His past salvation from Egypt, Amorites, and more.
  • Jeremiah 31:31–33 – A promise of a new covenant written on the heart, not tablets of stone.
  • Hebrews 12:3–11 – God disciplines His children to train them in holiness.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:10–15 – Our lives will be tested to reveal what has eternal value.
  • Ezekiel 18:30–32 – God calls for repentance and promises life to those who turn.
  • Hebrews 7:23–25 – Jesus, our eternal priest, always lives to intercede for us.
  • Colossians 1:18–20 – Christ has made peace by His blood and reconciled all things to Himself.
  • Romans 1:24–28 – God gives people over to their desires when they persistently reject Him.

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