The people of Israel would do evil in the sight of the LORD serving the gods of the land, forsaking the LORD and would not serve him. So the anger of the LORD would be kindled against them, and he would turn them over that they would be crushed and oppressed.1 Then they would cry out to God, confess their sins, repent, and he would send a judge to save them.2 Throughout the era of Judges this cycle of apostasy would repeat.
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.3 During the time of Samuel, Israel actually demanded a king. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”4 Yet all throughout this rebellion, God showed his faithfulness to his people as he sent prophets to constantly warn them not to serve other gods.
God would show signs of favor to Israel. Yet they rejected him. In the hardness of their heart, the priests came up with unbiblical ordinances that made it difficult for the people to comply with. In their attempt to show piety, they refrained from calling out God’s name; thus, about 300 BC, the Hebrew name of God Yahweh was written as YHWH.5
Imagine the disdain and shock that the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the religious leaders, the teachers of the law, and the scribes when Jesus started calling himself the I AM—seven descriptive I AMs.6 The very name that God said he is.7 Thus, the Jews judged him for blasphemy!8
Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.9 To those with ears but couldn’t hear, this truth was hard to understand. Was Jesus literal? “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”10 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.11
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.12 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.13
I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.14 “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, . . . Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”15
To this day, Jesus extends his invitation. “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”16
Notes:
1. Judges 10:6-8
2. Judges 10:6:10
3. Judges 21:25
4. 1 Samuel 8:7
5. https://www.google.com/search?q=yahweh&oq=yahweh&aqs=chrome..
69i59j69i57j0i67j0i131i433i512j46i512j0i67l2j0i512l2j46i512.14161j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
6. John 6:35, 8:12, 58, 10:11, 25, 14:6, 15:1
7. Exodus 3:14-15
8. John 10:33
9. John 6:35
10. John 6:60
11. John 6:66-69
12. John 1:1-4
13. John 1:14
14. Psalm 81:10
15. John 6:53-58
16. Revelations 3:19-21
