Judges 20
Dear RTB’ers,
Civil war in Israel, this time clearly involving all of Israel, eleven tribes from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead… (v. 20b) arrayed against their “brother”, Benjamin. Apparently this incident from yesterday and the battle today occurred early in the days of Judges, since we still have Phineas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron still around (v. 28). Three items struck me in this reading. First, the Israelites tried to “negotiate”: And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What evil is this that has taken place among you? Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” (vv. 12-13a) A good effort on their part, but a stubborn refusal from Benjamin in the very next verses: But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel. Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel. (vv. 13b-14) To me this is the most shocking item in today’s reading, that the people of Benjamin would not deliver up those “worthless fellows”.
The final item that struck me today was that the people of Israel called upon the Lord – and not just once, but three times. Even when the first two battles had horrible results, through Phineas they ask again: “Shall I yet again go out to battle…” (v. 28b). “yet again!” When things aren’t going well, are we inclined to give up on the Lord? To turn tail and walk away…? Or do we go back and “do battle” a third time, a fourth time, countless times…? That person you’ve been praying for – don’t stop! That promotion you’ve been seeking – keep working! God, the Holy Spirit will let you know when it’s time to move in a different direction. Until then, “yet again!”
Blessings!