The Old Testament book of Judges provides many salutary lessons. It highlights the frailty and sinful tendencies in all humans.  It reminds us of our weaknesses. One element is the frequent internal divisions in the nation.

Judges 5 – Deborah and Barak call the tribes to join together to fight against the Midianites who had invaded the land. In the face of this threat, some of the tribes failed to join the fight. Deborah’s song records the tribes of Reuben and Gilead and Dan (v16-17) staying put, whilst others risked their lives (v18).

Judges 8 – During the time of Gideon, an argument arose with Ephraim, “Why have you treated as like this?” (v1-3) They criticised him sharply. They seemed to have missed out on the fighting. In response, Gideon commented that they had captured and killed Oreb and Zeeb, leaders of the Midianites. The writer says that their resentment was subdued; not totally, I fear!

Judged 9 – Abimelech was not an exemplary judge. We read that there was conflict between him and the citizens of Shechem, which led to him slaughtering 1,000 in the tower of Shechem. In turn, Abimelech was killed when trying to capture the town of Thebez.

Judges 12 – When Jephthah became Judge in Israel, the Ephraimites (again) complained that they had not been asked to join the fight against the Ammonites. Jephthah answered that he had called, but they had failed to respond.

Judges 20 & 21 – the final episode of the book marks the low point of Israelite history for many centuries. The detail is not edifying. Benjamin rebelled against the other eleven tribes, leading to them agreeing (for once) to attack Gibeah and Benjamin. Finally the tribe of Benjamin is almost wiped out.

The severity of these divisions seems to reflect the general spiritual declension in Israel. As their love for God grew cold, as each one “did as he saw fit” – unity and community fragmented.

The letter to the Hebrews includes these words:

Now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12.27-28)

There is a lot going on! (And this list is nowhere near complete!)

• there are wars, most recently the Israel-Hamas conflict; also in Sudan and the horn of Africa.
• There are many incidents evidencing climate change; floods, extreme heat, etc.
• The worldwide impact of covid-19, which scientists expect not to be the final such pandemic. This has diminished supply chains across the world.
• The Ukraine conflict in particular has inflated prices of basic foodstuffs for many millions.

in light of events across the world recently, I came to meditate on the words above.

I would not be so bold as to claim that what I have witnessed is the same as what Hebrews predicts. It is not ‘this is that’ (see Acts 2.16) but ‘this is like that.’ There is a shaking, ahead of ‘the’ shaking.

The shaking removes created things. It tests our trust in God and His Son and His promises. What remains may be unseen but cannot be shaken.

The kingdom we will receive will not be shaken.

Our response? – we worship and we are thankful. We press on in service and witness.

One of Jacob’s final appearances in Genesis. This is the final chapter of his life.

A man with a stick, walking with a limp (Gen 32.31). Yet the greatest king of his generation received a blessing (twice) from Jacob.

Jacob was truly a man of mixed history; inconsistent, a grasper, a deceiver – God had promised to be with him; and God had been with him. When appearing to Moses, God identified Himself as the God of Jacob (Ex 3.6). He is not ashamed to be identified with this man; see Heb 2.11. Hebrews 11 presents Jacob as a hero of faith.

Jacob was doubtless a man who was difficult to be around; he always caused conflict: in Rebekah’s womb, in Isaac’s home, in Laban’s home, in his own family. Even his sons did not get on! In Gen 45.24, when sending them to collect their father, Joseph told them not to argue!

This is no justification for us to emulate his behaviour! But the life of Jacob does show the breath of the grace of God.