Judges 2:11

Judges 2:11 says, And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:  The people of Israel, God's chosen people, did evil in His sight, and served Baalim, a false god.  God chose them, but they did not choose Him.  If we are God's people, we should not do evil in His sight, and we can certainly never follow other gods and be a part of His chosen people.  Verse twelve adds, And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.  Those who were called God's people forsook Him and worshipped other Gods.  This provoked God's anger.  If we who are called Christians today are following other gods, we really are not His people and we will earn His wrath.  Verse thirteen continues, And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.  I don't think we can ever forsake our salvation if we are truly saved, but some people who profess to be saved instead follow other gods.  Verse fourteen states, And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.  God,who had delivered the people of Israel from Egypt by His power, now removed His protective hand from them, and they were defeated by other nations.  They could not stand by their own power, and neither can we in the world today.  Verse fifteen adds, Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.  When the hand of God was against them, they were under the power of evil.  I don't believe God sends evil our way when we refuse to accept Him as our one and only God, but He does allow evil to have power over us.  Of course, like Sodom and Gomorrah, if we reach the point where there is no hope of redemption, God may utterly destroy us, but this is not the same as sending evil on us.  Verse sixteen declares, Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.  Things were not forever hopeless, because in time God raised up judges to deliver the people of Israel from their oppressors.  When the time was right, God sent Jesus Christ to deliver anyone who will put their faith in Him as their personal Savior and Lord from the oppression of sin and the death penaty it brings.  Verse seventeen adds,  And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.  Though God raised up judges, the people of Israel wouldn't listen to them and  continued to chase after other gods.  Though the gospel is preached today, many people will not listen to it and continue to chase after all sorts of other gods.  Verse eighteen continues, And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. God was with the judges and delivered them from the hands of all their enemies.   God is still with Christians today, especially preachers, and will deliver them spiritually from all their enemies, no matter what happens in this lifetime.