Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

completely to Him who has said, "Follow Me."
After the death of Gideon, the people of Israel accepted his
illegitimate son Abimelech as their king, who, to increase his power,
murdered all but one of Gideon's lawful children. Israel's cruel way
of dealing with the house of Gideon was what might be expected
from a people who showed such great ingratitude to God.
More Backsliding and More Misery!
After the death of Abimelech, the rule of judges who respected
God helped to hold back idolatry for a time. But before long the
people returned to the practices of the heathen around them.
Apostasy quickly brought punishment. The Ammonites conquered
the eastern tribes of Israel and, crossing the Jordan river, invaded the
territory of Judah and Ephraim. On the west the Philistines came up
from their plain beside the sea, burning and looting wherever they
went. Israel seemed to be hopelessly under the power of unyielding
enemies.
Again the people looked for help from Him whom they had
forsaken and insulted. "The children of Israel cried out to the Lord,
saying, 'We have sinned against You, because we have both
forsaken our God and served the Baals!'" But the people did not
mourn because they had dishonored God by breaking His holy law,
but because their sins had brought suffering on themselves. True
repentance is a determined turning away from evil.
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