Judges
They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress. (Judges 2:13-15 ESV)
Temporary
These words describe the pattern throughout the time of the Judges. Israel wandered away from their God. God sent troubles.
And every time, God sent a redeemer.
And things got better.
Until they didn’t.
And the cycle repeated.
Every Judge, from excellent Othniel to troublesome Samson was not sufficient. They saved Israel temporarily. But their work was never enough.
Only the Messiah would be enough.
Even today, we reach out to other helpers, and sometimes other helpers help. But it is never enough. The cycles repeat.
Only the Messiah, only Jesus, only God’s way is sufficient.
And the Judges clearly display that.