Thursday, December 24, 2015

Judges 20 - Civil War

The tribes of Israel after receiving the gruesome token sent by the Levite after his concubine had been raped and died from the violence at Gibeon were incensed and gathered to hear the story first hand from the Levite and to determine a course of action. The tribes determined that 1/10th of their men would be selected for battle and they would confront their brother tribe Benjamin at Gibeah. First, they asked for the men who committed the crime, but they would not turn over the men, so they came in attack. 

After the first unsuccessful attack they decided to ask the Lord if it was right to go against their brother tribe. The Lord confirmed their way and so they repeated the unsuccessful attack the next day. So the army returned to fast and pray again receiving word that their next day would end in success. That day they decimated the tribe, killing men, women, children and even the animals. Only about 600 men escaped to live at a rock in the desert. The tribe of Benjamin facing extinction all together. 

This was a sad day in the history of Israel that they would have to make war against their own people. That the tribe of Benjamin had strayed so far from the Lord and refused to accept the escape clause offered when the army asked for the guilty. 

When God's people pursue wickedness God must judge. We are reminded not to protect the sinner but bring him into the light so that his deeds may be exposed. If we harbor sin ourselves or protect those who have gone astray, we will be accountable to God.  If he brings fellow Christians to confront us He is right to do so. 

Israel found that unity does not trump righteousness. God brought all the tribes low in this battle recognizing that they had all compromised their faith. In the end the relationship with the tribe of Benjamin was severed and would never again be the same. Likewise, God tells the church to offer an opportunity for the one living in sin to repent and turn back to unity of the brotherhood of believers, but if they refuse we must let them go. Our first relationship is to God and not to men, but our goal should be to bring men back to God and restore fellowship. 

Do you have a troubled relationship in your circle?  Begin as the Israelited did by fasting and praying for wisdom and then be courageous enough to confront sin, but where possible restore unity. If unity cannot be achieved it is better to break fellowship than to abide with division. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him. 

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