Follow the Leader

     It is a good feeling to be able to do anything you want to do.  I remember the first time I was away from home for any length of time.  it was "Boys State" in Indiana.  Most states have a similar program.  It was my first time away without the presence of my parents.  All I had to do was to follow the guidelines of "Boys State" and participate in the various activities but there was no one to check my hair or my shoes or anything else.  If I wanted to eat two apples and I had them, I could do it.  I felt free and even after a couple of days of being homesick, I managed to do my part.  Of course, it was helpful to know that my parents would be there in 7 days to pick me up.   Judges 21:25 says, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."  
       This verse is the last verse in the Book of Judges.  It is a pretty good description of "anarchy."  The Israelites had gone through a long period of Judges and at the same time were getting further and further away from God's leading.  It finally came down to this last statement.  Everyone and Anyone seem to be able to do whatever they wanted.  Rules or commandments had all been put aside.  Soon after, the Israelites go what they wanted.  They got a king like all of the other nations around them as they finally came to the point of rejecting the leadership of God and wanted an earthly king instead.  They were headed for a path of destruction and didn't even know it.  There are many people today that are in the same predicament as the people of Israel so many years ago.  Masses of people are rejecting the leadership of God in their lives and then following an imitator.  How about you?  Do we follow whomever looks like a guru of intelligence or do we desire to follow after God?    Joshua had come to the conclusion that he and his family were going to follow the leadership of God no matter what.  If we examine our own lives for a moment, we can come to the conclusion that we are not doing a very good job of making our own decisions without the Lord's guidance.  We should take the advice of Joshua by his example and follow after God.  We should put down the writings of the gurus of the world and get back to God's Holy Word.  We should quit trying to bow down to an idol of stone or wood that does nothing and get back to worshiping God in all that we do.  We don't want to come to the conclusion of our lives and follow the example of Judges 21:25, but indeed follow God and His leading.  Just think of this fact.  We have a copy of God's Word in our hands that will give us all of the instruction that we will need.  Praise God that He is our King and His guidance is the best of all.