In Judges 20 we find Israel in a battle with the Benjamites. Before engaging in battle, Israel seeks the Lord and asks if they should go in to battle. The Lord responds by saying, “Go”. In the first encounter with the Benjamites, Israel is sorely defeated as they lost 22,000 men. So Israel inquires of the Lord a second time and God once again says, “Go”. During the second battle, Israel once again is defeated as they lost 18,000 men. Israel now asks the Lord a third time and God responds the same way as the other times before by saying, “go”. This third battle was their final battle as the Lord brought complete and total victory to Israel.
How many times have we felt like we heard from God to fight a battle and we ended up facing defeat! How many times have stepped out in faith just to be disappointed? The first thing we think is, “oh, I must have missed God”. We have been trained to believe that hearing direction from the Lord always results in victory. This story in Judges 20 tells us differently.
We must remember that individual battles do not determine the outcome of the war. You can loose 100 battles and win the right battle to win the war. We must never allow the devil to convince us that we “missed God” simply because we have not experienced immediate victory.
So why would God tell Israel to fight and not guarantee immediate victory? I believe there are 2 answers to that question found in Judges 20. First we must understand that Israel was fighting an army much smaller than themselves. Benjamin had 26,000 men against Israel’s 400,000 soldiers. Could it be that Israel went into battle with confidence in their own strength and numbers? How often do we go into battle confident in our own ability and faith? God will sometimes allow us to experience defeat to remind us that it is not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit.
Secondly, we must understand that Israel was standing on the side of a just cause. They were in the “right” and Benjamin was in the “wrong”. How many times do feel that because we have stood for righteousness that victory is automatic? We sometimes take the blessing and favor of God for granted. We often feel like God owes us something because we have stood through so much. The truth is that God is not obligated to us, but rather we are obligated to Him.
I believe that God is directing us prophetically to go into battle just one more time. As we realize that God does not owe us victory and that it will not come as a result of our efforts, He will deliver the enemy into our hands. Some of you have been fighting a battle with the same enemy for years. You have never obtained victory. But now is the time. Fight the battle one more time, and you will win your war!!!
2 comments:
I really appreciate reading this at this point in my life. My health had been healed about two months ago. I gave God praise and thanks. I may not understand why I am now experiencing less than stellar health but am reminded that the battle belongs to the Lord. This blog on Judges 20 will help my focus today. Thanks!
A very timely teaching for me to read this morning...it was very similar to OUR story...but I pray we will have victory now as we go fwd in faith in our walk with Jesus to defeat the enemy and to bring many into the kingdom of God and see all who cross our paths be victorious in Jesus.
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