Calendar

THE MEN WHO FAILED GOD (XII)
THURSDAY, MARCH 9
Judges 20:29-48

Joshua 8:3-29

 

“…it shall not be well with the wicked,

neither shall he prolong his days…”

 

THE MEN WHO FAILED GOD (XII)
 
In the accomplishing of the will of God and discipline of the erring brother, there also has to be soberness in the fulfilling of our duties and responsibilities. The men of Israel having received assurance of victory from the LORD, still needed to strategise on how they would deal with Benjamin. They did change their approach this third time round, just as Joshua did with Ai after dealing with Achan’s sin.
 
“And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first…” (Judg 20:32). The deceitfulness of sin and its hardening and dulling influence on the mind was seen in the Benjamites. The two battles should not have had this effect on them, but rather should have opened their eyes to the resolve of the ten tribes on this issue. Despite losing the first two encounters, the men of Israel were coming back. The cost of the first two battles also should not have encouraged or emboldened the Benjamites for the third battle. Was the protection of men who had done evil worth the lives that were lost in the first two battles? But sin blinding them made them proud and emboldened them to boldly run to their own demise and ruin.
 
“…the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them” (Judg 20:41). The eyes of the Benjamites opened too late to remedy anything, but just in time to see what their rebellion brought them. This happens to everyone who stubbornly persists in sin and rejects correction. Their eyes began to open when no help was available and they were left at the mercy of their brothers who at this point were to them their enemies at war. They considered flight, but there was nowhere to flee to. Their solidarity in defence of error was broken and it was now everyone for himself. Though they had some semblance of success in their cause, the truth is that there was no profit in the pursuit of sin and all now shared in the wages of sin. The triumph of sin is temporary; its judgment and defeat are sure.
 
THOUGHT: (Read Ecclesiastes 8:11.)
PRAYER: Father, grant us grace not to rejoice in sin’s fleeting pleasures, for its bitter cup surely follows.

Search