The book of cycles

The book of Judges is a remarkable story of short memories. The continued cycle of the people of Israel straying from God, being subjected to foreign rule, calling out to God, and God sending a leader and freeing His people is quite a story. It is remarkable that the people continue to forget who God is and what He's done for His people. Even more remarkable, though, is how long it takes the people to return to God once they are under the rule of their enemies. Chapter 4 tells us that after 20 years under the rule of Jabin, the people cried out to the Lord for help. Why did it take them 20 years to remember they could call on the One who'd delivered them before? How easy it is to forget who God is and what He's done.