1. Short Lived Hope Judges 10:1-5; 12:8-15

2. Judges 10:1-5 (ESV) After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. And he judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir.

3. Judges 10:1-5 (ESV) After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

4. Judges 12:8-15 (ESV) After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.

5. Judges 12:8-15 (ESV) After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel, and he judged Israel ten years. Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

6. Judges 12:8-15 (ESV) After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years. After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years.

7. Judges 12:8-15 (ESV) Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

8. Miley - 2,753,877Miley - 2,753,877 Syria - 1,350,160Syria - 1,350,160

9. “Organizational and personal growth seldom follows a linear path. When people recount a history of growth they often tell it in linear sequence, suggesting a reality and control that never really existed” – Robert Quinn“Organizational and personal growth seldom follows a linear path. When people recount a history of growth they often tell it in linear sequence, suggesting a reality and control that never really existed” – Robert Quinn

10. God’s script always includes joy after sorrow After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. And he judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir. (10:1-2)

11. Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim Issachar Samaria Ephraim

12. God’s script always includes joy after sorrow God never ends the play with an Abimelech.God never ends the play with an Abimelech.

13. The urge to trust ourselves is irresistible even in light of God’s goodness After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died and was buried in Kamon. (10:3-5)

14. The urge to trust ourselves is irresistible even in light of God’s goodness Gilead

15. The urge to trust ourselves is irresistible even in light of God’s goodness “In all our ways there is this subtle urge to secure our position, to display our status, to extend our influence, to guarantee our recognition”.“In all our ways there is this subtle urge to secure our position, to display our status, to extend our influence, to guarantee our recognition”.

16. We live in under God’s Sovereignty – a Theo-centered world After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside for his sons.

17. We live in under God’s Sovereignty – a Theo-centered world And he judged Israel seven years. Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.

18. We live in under God’s Sovereignty – a Theo-centered world After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel, and he judged Israel ten years. Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

19. We live in under God’s Sovereignty – a Theo-centered world After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years. After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years.

20. We live in under God’s Sovereignty – a Theo-centered world Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. (12:8-15)

21. We live in under God’s Sovereignty – a Theo-centered world Obscure people are not unimportant.Obscure people are not unimportant.

22. “Behold your God”

23. We live in under God’s Sovereignty – a Theo-centered world God’s providence is both marvelous and mysterious.God’s providence is both marvelous and mysterious.

24. We live in under God’s Sovereignty – a Theo-centered world The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable (Isaiah 40:28) (Isaiah 40:28)

25. We live in under God’s Sovereignty – a Theo-centered world Faith must be ready to bow and worship in the dark!Faith must be ready to bow and worship in the dark!

26. Something’s always missing in a self-centered world There is no mention of rest and no mention of repentance.There is no mention of rest and no mention of repentance.

27. Something’s always missing in a self-centered world There is no mention of rest and no mention of repentance.There is no mention of rest and no mention of repentance. There is mention of death and no mention of hope.There is mention of death and no mention of hope.

28. Something’s always missing in a self-centered world There is no mention of rest and no mention of repentance.There is no mention of rest and no mention of repentance. There is mention of death and no mention of hope.There is mention of death and no mention of hope. Living in self-centered world can seem usual and normal, but it is deceiving. Living in self-centered world can seem usual and normal, but it is deceiving.

29. Bottom Line: On every page of the Bible we are reminded God is trustworthy and to live apart from Him is death.

30. For those not yet living a Jesus-centered life Plan your obituary.Plan your obituary.

31. For those not yet living a Jesus-centered life Plan your obituary.Plan your obituary.

32. For those living a Jesus-centered life Learn to trust God with the different seasons of your life.Learn to trust God with the different seasons of your life.

33. For those living a Jesus-centered life Be relentless in opening your life to the cleansing of self under the direction of the Holy SpiritBe relentless in opening your life to the cleansing of self under the direction of the Holy Spirit

34. For those living a Jesus-centered life Be relentless in opening your life to the cleansing of self under the direction of the Holy SpiritBe relentless in opening your life to the cleansing of self under the direction of the Holy Spirit

35. For those living a Jesus-centered life Be relentless in opening your life to the cleansing of self under the direction of the Holy SpiritBe relentless in opening your life to the cleansing of self under the direction of the Holy Spirit

36. For those living a Jesus-centered life Never be content living a normal life.Never be content living a normal life.

37. For those living a Jesus-centered life Never be content living a normal life.Never be content living a normal life.

38. For those living a Jesus-centered life Never be content living a normal life.Never be content living a normal life.

39. For those living a Jesus-centered life Never be content living a normal life.Never be content living a normal life. No one ever questions a normal lifeNo one ever questions a normal life