Even though Israel had become the great nation that God promised, the people were quick to turn their backs on God. The Book of Judges shows a vicious cycle--the people forget about God, they face disaster as a result, they cry out to God for help, God raises up a leader through which he rescues them, and then the cycle repeats!

Perhaps a king will help? But, no--even the wise Solomon forgets the God that gave him wisdom. The kingdom becomes fractured in two. King after king fails to do what is right in God's sight. Despite a few moments when it seems the people might listen to the warnings of the prophets, the people once again find themselves slaves in a foreign land, as both kingdoms fall.

The people misinterpret their defeat as God's defeat and wonder: has God finally given up on them? Is his plan ruined? Is all lost?