Episode 430 - Is God stretching you uncomfortably?

<p><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/judges/2?11">Jgs 2:11-19</a></p> <p>The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals.<br> Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers,<br> who led them out of the land of Egypt,<br> they followed the other gods of the various nations around them,<br> and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD.</p> <p>Because they had thus abandoned him and served Baal and the Ashtaroth,<br> the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel,<br> and he delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them.<br> He allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies round about<br> whom they were no longer able to withstand.<br> Whatever they undertook, the LORD turned into disaster for them,<br> as in his warning he had sworn he would do,<br> till they were in great distress.<br> Even when the LORD raised up judges to deliver them<br> from the power of their despoilers,<br> they did not listen to their judges,<br> but abandoned themselves to the worship of other gods.<br> They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken,<br> and did not follow their example of obedience<br> to the commandments of the LORD.&nbsp;<br> Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge<br> and save them from the power of their enemies<br> as long as the judge lived;<br> it was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful cries<br> of affliction under their oppressors.<br> But when the judge died,<br> they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors,<br> following other gods in service and worship,<br> relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.<a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/106?34"><br> 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44</a></p> <p>R.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;(4a) &nbsp;<strong>Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.</strong><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/19?16"><br> Mt 19:16-22</a></p> <p>A young man approached Jesus and said,<br> “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”<br> He answered