October 11, 2026 | A Faithless Generation

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Devotional Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1–14

Background Scripture: Judges 1–2

Introduction

A. Caught in a Loop

If you need a humorous response to those who express concern about your love of certain sweet or salty snacks, try this one-liner: “I can resist anything except temptation.” All joking aside, addiction is serious. It involves the compulsive urge to engage with substances and behaviors (or activities) that simulate reward despite adverse consequences. A sense of immediate gratification overrides an awareness of long-term harm. Addiction changes one’s brain chemistry, rewriting the reward system to perpetuate the dependence. People with addiction, therefore, live in a destructive feedback loop.

My experience with years of compulsive negative behavior was not severe, but the difficulty of breaking any cycle is fierce. Some people never escape the loop. Others try but relapse. Sometimes the attempted rehabilitation and relapse become a part of an extended loop. However, it is possible to break negative cycles. A few fortunate people find their way out.

The book of Judges tells the story of an extended negative feedback loop that was experienced nationally. It warns us against temptation and tendencies while displaying God’s steadfast faithfulness to His people. The book recounts events roughly between 1380 and 1050 BC.