There are two stories going on in your life – the Upper Story and the Lower Story. We all live in and see life from the perspective of the Lower Story. No matter how hard we try, we can only see so far down the road because humanity’s viewpoint is linear, horizontal, limited. All our decisions require some sort of faith or trust in what we cannot control around the corner. The Upper Story is how the things look from God’s perspective. His viewpoint is panoramic, vertical, unlimited. Not only does he see around the next bend in the road, he is sees it all from beginning to end. The goal is to align our Lower Story to God’s Upper Story because when we do, God promises it will be a good story.

SUMMARY

The nation of Israel had a place to call home at last. Settling into the Promised Land enabled them to leave behind their wandering ways and fulfill one of the key promises to Abraham: a land for God’s people to occupy. But, failing to evict the Canaanites, these pagan neighbors became a toxic influence on a nation called to be different.

After the death of Joshua, God’s people felt this pull of worldly culture and a cycle of sin became the pattern of life in Israel for the next 300 years: 

• Israel turned again and again to the worship of pagan gods
• God brought divine judgment
• Israel cried out for God’s help
• God raised up a judge to save them

Early on, Israel was conquered by the Canaanite king, Jabin. God appointed Deborah, a prophet, judge, and strong leader to deliver her people. She and her military leader, Barak, defeated the Canaanite army led by Sisera. He took refuge in the tent of a woman named Jael, who killed him while he slept. Israel had been delivered for now, but Israel was later oppressed by the Midianites. God called Gideon out of nowhere to deliver His people. Gideon was pretty sure that God has mistaken him for some four-star commander and asked twice for a miraculous sign. God confirmed His intentions so Gideon gathered 32,000 troops. God, however, trimmed their forces to just 300 men. He used them to rout the Midianites and the people enjoyed freedom…for a while. 

Israel was soon dominated by the Philistines. This time God prepared a deliverer by promising a child to a barren woman. This child, Samson, was to be raised as a Nazirite, who was set apart to God.  His hair was not to be cut and he was to drink no wine. He was well known for his superhuman strength and less than super character, especially in the company of beautiful women.  His second wife, Delilah, betrayed him by cutting his hair so he would forfeit his advantage and God’s favor.  Samson himself embodied this insidious cycle that had enslaved Israel, with his saw-tooth history of indiscretions and victories.

As a result, the Philistines took him captive but his hair grew back and his strength returned. Samson’s last day was his best one. He was brought into the Philistine temple to entertain their leaders. He prayed to the LORD, collapsed the pillars of the temple and defeated the Philistines at last.

God is never bashful about His intentions for His people. He never tolerates sin and, at the same time, never breaks His covenant with His people. Israel may not have fully understood God’s discipline, but over and over He had to bring them to their knees in order to bring them to Himself.

QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever been rescued from a dangerous or difficult situation? What happened?
2. In the evil days after Joshua, “every man did what was right in his eyes” (Judges 21:25 ESV). What do you think happened if the Israelites were practicing Deut. 6:6-7? In a pluralistic society, why is it dangerous when everyone gets to pick their own definition of right and wrong?
3. Israel is constantly running from the true God to other false gods. What are some of the false gods in our culture today? Which of them do you find yourself drawn to or hard to eradicate from your life?
4. False gods trigger a cycle: a web of sin, God’s judgments, crying out for help, and God providing deliverance. What are some destructive cycles you have seen in your own life that lead to indifference, complacency or even sin?
5. God used Israel’s enemies to turn them back to himself. Have you ever had a painful or dangerous experience that led you back to God? What do you see looking back on those experiences now?
6. Deborah’s military leader was named Barak, which means “lightning” or “flashing sword.” Did he live up to his name? Describe a time when fear held you back from living up to the name “Christian.”
7. The angel of the Lord greeted Gideon as a mighty warrior though he was from the weakest clan and of the least in his family (The Story, p.107-8). God demonstrated abundant victory through Gideon and a stripped-down army. How has God provided for you through overwhelming odds, when everything seems to be against you? Do you tend to define yourself by your weaknesses or by the potential God sees in you because He is with you? Why?
8. What was Samson’s true weakness? How can you deal with your weaknesses before they become your downfall? When has a strength of yours been insufficient to overcome your conditions? What strengths or resources do you tend to rely on more than entrusting your life into God’s care?
9. God calls us to be counter-cultural and distinct, set apart for his purposes to take his message to a desperate world. When faced with blending in and not following God’s call to be different than the culture around you, what hope do you find in these verses: 1 Peter 5:8-11, 1 Thess. 5:16-21, 2 Cor. 4:16-18, James 1:12? Who will notice your ‘distinctiveness’ and be drawn to God because of it?

TAKE-AWAY

In ancient times, God called Israel out of the nations to have a distinct voice and presence in the world. Today, he calls us as believers to be set apart and to look, act, and live differently than the world around us. When we refuse to listen to his Word and to Holy Spirit, he will use the circumstances of our lives, even dire ones, to awaken us to just how far we are drifting away from our calling. Living in the land of promise, don’t lose the war on complacency! Trust God who remains true to his Word because he always brings rescue and salvation to his people.

PRAYER

Father, give me the wisdom to recall your saving and healing work in my life. Help me to trust in your faithfulness and to not deviate to the left or the right. When indifference creeps in or overtakes me, help me cry out to you for deliverance for I know you will respond. Fill me with your Spirit so I might not forget you, and always follow your ways, which are good. May my life reflect your goodness and grace to the watching world around me. Amen.