Judges 10-11 Jephthah

Because they worshiped other gods…God chastised them…He sent the Philistines and Ammonites to oppress the people for the next 18 years.
We know from the Book of Acts that persecution actually helps to get our focus back on God.
And trials have a similar effect on us…they tend to get our focus off what we are doing and get it back on God.
It is when we are living comfortable lives with no worries that we get lazy in our relationship with God.
Eighteen years of oppression was enough to move Israel to get their focus back on God and cry out to Him.