In their distress, Israel turned to every possible god they could find. Yahweh was just one of many they were willing to try. They are like people in a disaster who pray to “god” for help, but what god and why would he listen? The fact that people call out for help shows we are created with the knowledge of a Creator and a hole within us that He alone can fill and heal.

I. Looking Inward (Judg 10:10-14). This is the first and only confession of sin in Judges. What had been right in their own eyes was acknowledged as offensive to God. But talk is cheap. The boy who pulls his sister’s hair may pout when caught, and cry when disciplined, but repentance is worked by what he does when the parent leaves the room.
Repentance is a change of mind which leads to a change of direction (1 Thess 1:9-10); it is not remorse. The prodigal had a change of mind before his actions changed (Lk 15:17). True repentance, which is a gift from God, is always met by His mercy and forgiveness (Neh 9:31; Ps 78:38).
Israel’s sin was two-fold (Jer 2:11-13). First, they forsook (willfully leave, abandon, ignore, apostatize) God. Second, they served (worshiped or became enslaved to) other gods. What we serve, we worship; what we worship, we serve. But idols can’t satisfy because they are created things corrupted by sin. Only One outside of sin can fill our emptiness, and we were created to worship Him (Rom 1:18-23).
Israel never appealed to God for love, mercy, grace, or forgiveness. They merely wanted deliverance from a painful trial, not to reconcile a broken relationship.

II. Looking Upward (Judg 10:15-16). God reminded Israel of His past acts. He was faithful; they were unfaithful. His goodness and faithfulness, however, hadn’t changed their hearts. Salvation requires more than living in God’s goodness. So Israel prostituted themselves to the gods of their enemies whom God had given them victory over (Judg 10:6, 11-12).
Israel presumed on God’s grace (Heb 10:26-31), expecting His immediate deliverance this day. Like putting a key in a lock, they demanded God bend to their outward motions. They denied His sovereignty, treating Him like Baal once again. But God refused to play. He knew this was a conversion of convenience; He knew their hearts were filled with remorse, not repentance. When we have excuses, it’s not repentance (Gen 3:12-13). True repentance has no resting place but in the God of all grace (1 Pet 5:10).
God answered with sarcasm. He would turn them over to the gods they worshiped and these false gods could deliver them (Deut 32:36-38; Jer 2:9-13). The greatest judgment God can give is to abandon people to their utter sinfulness (Rom 1:24-28).
Israel assumed God owed them deliverance, but their hope wasn’t in religion or rituals like prayer, sacrifices, or even repentance, but in the unchanging character of God. God was grieved by His people’s turmoil (Judg 10:16; Is 63:9). He wasn’t obligated, duty bound, or sorry for their tears.
God would deliver them - not because of their words, deeds, or promises - but because His own immutable character wouldn’t allow their misery to continue. He loved His people and would rescue them because of who He is eternally. Outside manipulations that pagans said motivated Baal, couldn’t shape or move the Biblical God. He is sovereign and changes not (Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17). Many Christians, especially those who are law-bound, need to learn of God’s heart and character. His grace is abundantly revealed in the Old Testament and the Book of Judges.

III. Looking Ahead (Judg 10:17-18). At the end of 18 years of oppression and the Ammonite army advancing on the land, no leader could be found. Yes, God leads His people through the world, but He leads through men. Leadership matters.