QT 15 Jan 13, Repeated sin is a descent into a deeper darkness

Judges 10:1-6a (NIV) After the time of Abimelech a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir.

3 He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. 4 He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair.  5 When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

6a Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

NOTE: There are a lot of details left out of the story of Tola. We know he rose to save Israel, suggesting that there was sin and they needed a savior again. He is followed by Jair, who also has a short story, except for a few details. One, he does not rise up and save Israel, rather he just leads Israel. Not only does he lead, but he controls thirty towns which interestingly correspond to his thirty sons. Since Israel was not to have multiple wives, he clearly ignores some of God's teaching. Also, he hands out towns to his sons to govern. I have to wonder if Jair was a judge or rather the punishment for falling away. Except  that in the next verse, it says, "again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord." Still, each situation begins to sound more and more chaotic, and less and less like there is any belief or concern for God. There is this downward spiral of sin that is not getting better, but is actually getting worse. So is the case with sin, we slowly descend into a sewer without even knowing how we got there.