Midweek: Progressing in Discipline

At one time, my former employer practiced "progressive discipline." This form of training was largely dependent on the detailed documentation of frontline supervisors. Supervisors were to document in each of their employees' files three discussion each week --positive or negative --establishing a history that traveled with the employee as they developed (or declined) throughout their career. When an employee was being considered for a transfer, promotion, recognition, or formal discipline, good documentation made assessment pretty straightforward. One could quickly see, for instance, an employee's poor performance had been addressed multiple times, accommodations had been made, and the employee still failed to work as instructed. Further discipline would be required; more consequential discipline.  

Throughout the Book of Judges, we see the Wash-Rinse-Repeat repentance of humanity. Of course, this is the history of God's people, Israel, but are any of us not the same? We receive correction, maybe are spared some of the pain of our poor decisions; we toe the line for a bit of time and slowly slide right on back to our old ways. In Judges 10, things take a bit of a turn. Israel had returned to its previous sins (v. 6). God chose to get their attention with a line of enemies stacked up against them: troubled relationships, financial difficulties, noisy neighbors, sickness. Okay, not exactly in Israel's case; but has God ever used those things to grab your attention? Did you find yourself nearer your Redeemer as you prayed all through the night for a resolution, or when all was well? 

So, the wolves were at the door, and Israel cried out to the Lord for help. Did He answer? Yes, but not in the way He had before. This time He sent them packing: Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress (v. 14). And this time His people repented: 

And the children of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray.” So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord. (v. 15, 16)

Not under the leadership of God's appointed rescuer, not even under the promise of salvation, but under the torment of their enemies Israel turned their hearts toward God. Progressive discipline. As the discipline God allowed (or inflicted) increased in its severity, the structure and stringency of Israel's behavior improved. As God withdrew His blessing, the people began to worship His character. 

And God could no longer endure the misery of His children; He sent a deliverer (Judges 11). 

SPOILER ALERT: The children of Israel returned to their wicked ways (13:1). Does that mean they somehow "got over" on God? that He didn't know they would rebel? No. Just as with my former employer, progressive discipline was designed to correct behavior using the least amount of force possible. If folks complied after a simple talking-to, that was progress: as a supervisor, I wanted employees to progress, not consequences. Progressive discipline favored justice. By correcting behavior patiently, in a self-controlled manner, consistently, and progressively, justice was done. Everyone was given a fair chance. Progressive discipline was structured around the willingness of a person to comply and designed to encourage progress among the entire group. When administered properly and accepted willingly, it is better than progressive discipline: it is progressing in discipline.