Judges 20:36 says, So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah. The Benjamites thought they were once again being victorious, which was what the men of Israel wanted them to think. They were willingly given way, because of those lying in wait behind them. Verse thirty-seven adds, And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword. Those who were lying in wait attacked the city of Gibeah after the army of the Benjamites had been drawn away. At times, we as Christians may be better off attacking the source of evil instead of individuals who are out and about doing evil under the power of that source. Verse thirty-eight continues, Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city. The sign between those of Israel who were allowing themselves to be pursued and those lying in wait was a great smoke from the city. Of course, this would mean that they had successfully taken Gibeah. If we are working with others, we need some form of communication between us if we are to truly work together. Verse thirty-nine states, And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle. The army of Benjamin managed to kill about thirty of the men of Israel, and expressed confidence in another victory. We may lose some fellow believers in the battle against evil in the world today, and this may give the enemy more confidence, but we have already won the war. Verse forty adds, But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven. The Benjamites looked behind them and saw the flame of the city, their stronghold, rising up to heaven. In their confidence, they had not considered that this could happen. People of the world in their battle against Christians often become too confident because they are used to winning battles and think nothing will ever change. Verse forty-one says, And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them. When the men of Israel turned around to face them, the Benjamites knew that something was wrong. It says that evil was upon them, but it was really the goodness of God's power that was upon them. We do not need to meet evil with evil today, but need to meet evil with God's goodness. Verse forty-two adds, Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them. Realizing that they had no city, no stronghold, to return to, the Benjamites fled toward the wilderness, but the people of Israel came out of the cities to fight against them. Verse forty-three continues, Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising. The people of Benjamin were surrounded and began to be beaten down. It would be nice if we as followers of Christ could surround and beat down our enemies today, but that is not going to happen in this lifetime. Verse forty-four states, And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour. Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin, who were called men of valor, fell in the battle. This was not because the men of Israel were necessarily stronger or more filled with valor than the Benjamites, but because the men of Israel were empowered by God. We cannot go into battle against evil today relying on our own strength, but must always be following God's will and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Verse forty-five continues, And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them. Those of the Benjamites who were left fled, but were pursued hard. Then, five thousand more were killed then, and another two thousand were killed in Gidom. Verse forty-six continues, So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour. The people of Benjamin lost twenty-five thousand in the battle, and they were once again called men of valor. Unfortunately, even though they were a part of God's chosen people, they were fighting against His will. Being courageous without putting our faith in God is never going to bring us the everlasting victory, no matter how courageous we are. Verse forty-seven says, But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. Six hundred of the Benjamites fled to the rock of Rimmon in the wilderness and lived there for four months. Verse forty-eight adds, And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to. The people of Israel then destroyed all the Benjamites and burned their cities as they came to them. One day, everything that people put their faith in other than salvation through accepting Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior and Lord is going to be destroyed.
No comments:
Post a Comment