The Book of Judges (1)

Suggested reading: Judges chapter 1 verses 16-36

The Book of Judges opens on an optimistic note as the children of Israel ask, ‘Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?’ They recognized that there was a battle to be fought and enemies to be expelled if they were to lay hold of their blessings in a land that flowed with milk and honey. They faced the challenge to fight and possess what belonged to them.

The same challenge faces Christians today. Paul wrote, ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ’, Ephesians chapter 1 verse 3. Our blessings are spiritual but they are just as real and we must engage in a battle if we are to lay claim to them!

A cursory glance at today’s reading might lead us to the conclusion that we are in the midst of a success story. True, it does give an account of Israel’s military successes; however, they failed to drive the Canaanites out of the land. Their victories were, at best, partial and incomplete. In the early days there were short-term gains; nevertheless, the long-term consequences were severe. We need to be careful as to how we judge success. What may appear to be success as far as we are concerned, may well be judged as failure in God’s eyes! If the more prominent tribes failed to trust God to give them complete victories over their enemies, it was no surprise to see a lack of success among the smaller tribes. What kind of example are we setting to others?

Paul’s words of encouragement to the young man, Timothy are ‘You therefore must endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who has enlisted him as a soldier’ 2 Timothy chapter 2 verses 3-4.