I've never done actual battle. I've trained for it with handgun classes shooting paper men, but I've never actually had to put my life on the line and faced an person who I knew was going to kill me if I didn't kill them first. In today's society, we really don't come across those instances too often unless we go into the military or law enforcement. I'm grateful for this, as I never want to use the training I've received.
But, I have done a lot of spiritual battle. The enemy is just as real and he is not only bent on my physical death, but my spiritual death. He is just so much more elusive than a man standing in front of me pointing a gun. With every choice I am faced with, I'm always given the opportunity to follow God's way or my way - which is really the enemy's way. Sometimes I wish it were as clear cut as facing a physical enemy. The hardest battles are within.
I was reading a very interesting story this morning in my Bible study, and it hit me much harder than any 12-gauge recoil ever could. It's found in Judges 19-20. I will freely admit that this is one of those times I don't understand everything I am studying. I would encourage you to read it for yourselves.
The story takes place when a Levite takes a concubine as his wife. She runs away after other lovers and ends up at her father's house. This Levite goes after her and speaks kindly to her to bring her back with him. Her father asks him to stay with them for a while, which turns into three days. The Levite tried to leave on the fourth day, but his father-in-law asked him to stay and have lunch, and then... since it's so late... just stay the night again. He did. Then, he tried to leave in the early morning of the fifth day, but was again detained by the girl's father. At evening time, her father tried again to keep them through the night, but the Levite wasn't willing to do this again. So, unwisely, he left with his wife and servant when he didn't have much daylight left for traveling.
He went until the sun was setting and decided to stop at a nearby town of Gibeah for the evening. His servant wanted to stop sooner at Jebus, but the Levite wanted to stay in cities of the children of Israel, not foreigners. I'm sure he expected a much warmer welcome, and that those people would be Godly brothers and sisters who would provide lodging. He was wrong. He went there and sat in the square as no one would give him lodging, though he had food for all those with him, including his donkeys. Finally, an old man coming back from working the fields took pity on him and brought him in to stay with him. He seemed concerned that he was about to spend the night in the open square. And, soon, we see why.
While they were having dinner, the men of the city wanted the old man to bring the Levite out so they could rape him. I'm struck here how far the "children of Israel" had fallen. The rest of the story gets progressively worse. The old man begged them not to take his guest, but offered his virgin daughter to them and the Levite's wife. Again, not the most chivalrous deed to ever take place in the Bible. The men hid behind the women. Finally, the Levite gave them his wife to rape all night while he hid in the house. She was so abused, when they released her in the morning, she died on the doorstep. Then, the Levite tied her up on his donkey and went home, where he cut up her body into 12 pieces and sent them all throughout Israel. It certainly got people's attention. Everyone gathered together. All the leaders of all the tribes of Israel, and 400,000 foot soldiers. Then, the Levite told them how his wife was murdered. Everyone was in agreement, the men of Gibeah must be punished.
But, Gibeah didn't want to give up the men who had done this murderous act. Instead, they decided to go to war against Israel. So, 26,000 men of the tribe of Benjamin and 700 men of Gibeah went up to do battle against 400,000 soldiers of Israel. Pretty bad odds. It looked like Benjamin and Gibeah would be crushed. Still, the children of Israel, even though they were on the side of justice, and even though they far outnumbered their enemy, still inquired of the Lord whether they should go to battle. He told them that Judah should go first. He gave them the green light to go to war.
However, when they went to war the first day, they were completely defeated. In a bewildering scenario, an army of 26,700 men of Benjamin went up against an army of 400,000 and killed 22,000 of the children of Israel. So, they went to God and wept before Him all day until the evening, and asked Him what to do. Again, God told them to go to war the next day.
So, they listened to Him, and went to war again against Benjamin. Again, they lost and 18,000 more men died. Israel again went before the Lord and wept and fasted all day and offered burnt offerings to God. Then, a third time, Israel again asked God if they should go against Benjamin or if they should stop. I can see their frustration, as this is the first time they asked God not only if they should go to war, but if they should give up. God told them to go, and that He would deliver the armies into Israel's hand. This is the first time God promises victory.
So, in obedience, Israel went out against Benjamin. They began the battle and 30 men from Israel's side died. It looked like Benjamin would win again. The armies of Benjamin were so sure of the victory, they followed Israel as they fled and left the protection of the city of Gibeah. But, 10,000 select fighters closed in behind them and rushed the city that was now defenseless, killing everyone inside. Meanwhile, in the plains away from the city, the battle was fierce and the Benjaminites fought hard. The Bible says that they "did not know that disaster was upon them." Suddenly, the Benjamites looked behind them and saw their city in flames, and panicked. They ran away, and the men of Israel overtook them and killed 18,000 as they were running away, then killed 5,000 more on the highways, and 2,000 more up to Gidom. As promised, God defeated the Benjamintes before Israel, and the men of Israel killed 25,100 Benjamites total. Only 600 men remained alive who fled into the wilderness to rebuild the tribe of Benjamin. And, even in victory, Israel was grieved because they had almost wiped out an entire tribe of the twelve tribes of Israel.
I can see so many lessons in the story that I need to personally consider.
- One woman cheating on her husband started this entire war. If he hadn't journeyed to get her, they would never have gone to Gibeah. It rings of the story of Helen of Troy, but much more gruesome and unromantic. In the same way, one act, however personal that you believe only affects you, can be the pebble in the water that causes ripples of pain to be felt among many.
- One man's procrastination caused them to have to turn aside to Gibeah. The Levite knew he needed to start in the morning to get home safely. But, he found himself waylaid by his father-in-law until close to evening. He was probably frustrated that this had happened two days in a row and just wanted to get away. But, he let his anger drive him into making a terrible decision of leaving when he knew he would need to stay the night somewhere versus going straight home. How many times do I push forward in anger against sound reason because I feel I've wasted too much time? Also, how many times do I delay doing what I know I need to do because the journey ahead seems so tiring and it's just so comfortable where I am?
- The Levite went to Gibeah, a "Godly" city, and refused to go to Jebus, a foreign city of people who did not know God, believing he would be among God's people. Many times, we forget that without God's grace, we are all capable of any sin. If we stay out of God's presence long enough, we get so immune to His voice, we become hard. We call evil good, and good evil. While we may play the good Christian by day, in the safety of the cover of darkness, we are no better than anyone else. Unfortunately, because we are such good actors, others still believe we are living a holy life until they see the truth, and then they reject God because they don't understand that a Christian is still just a sinner. They associate God with the people who so poorly represent Him. This is what has turned more seekers away from the church. They see the hypocrisy of people pretending to be perfect while entertaining evil. We need to stop elevating each other on pedestals, admit our complete inability to resist sin without constant dependance on our Savior, and just focus on Jesus. I doubt the Levite would have fared worse at Jebus.
- The Levite, when faced with a lustful mob calling for him, decided to hid behind his wife and give her to them to abuse all night. In today's justice system, we would say he was an accessory to murder. He sacrificed her to save himself. Instead of calling on God for help or standing up against evil, he took the easy way out and hid behind a woman. Today, I also see a huge gaping hole waiting to be filled with men who are willing to take up God's sword and fight evil fearlessly. There is too much compromise and spiritual lethargy among those whom God has called to lead. In America, a third of all children grow up without a dad. Woman are now responsible for working outside the home and for taking care of the children. Many times, the wife is the spiritual head and takes the children to church while her husband watches a football game. Finding true men of God who are willing to not just go through the motions, but parent their children and teach them to know God, love their wives and sacrifice themselves for them as Christ did the church, and who put on the armor of God to go to battle for His kingdom is rare indeed.
- Once the Levite told Israel of Gibeah's sin and the Israelites asked for the men who committed the crime, the nation of Gibeah refused to purge the guilty from their city. That decision cost all but 600 men their lives. How many times do I see a sin in my heart that I know I must surrender and put that part of me to death, but instead I hold onto it? I would rather fight back than give up something wicked within me. Why? If I continue to hold onto it, my destruction is just as sure as Gibeah's.
- Gibeah was defeated because of their pride. They had defeated Israel twice before, why not again? When they saw them running away, they raced after them and left the protection of their city. They also left their city unprotected. Israel ran away to draw them out, then they turned on them when they were far enough away from protection and closed in. The lesson of spiritual pride has been very real in my life lately. I mistakenly think that just because I have resisted something successfully in the past and have a perfect track record, that I will be able to do it again. I am above failure in this area, and it becomes my downfall. In my pride, I feel I have nothing to fear. Then, before I realize what is happening, or as the men of Gibeah who "did not know that disaster was upon them," I suddenly find myself in so deep that I cannot escape. I run out confident of the victory, and am suddenly surrounded by my multitude of careless decisions, too far from help. I turn to run, but I am cut down.
- The one part of the story that bothers me is that the men of Israel asked God if they should go to war with Benjamin, and He told them to go. Twice, they went and lost. They were pursuing justice and were in the right. They inquired of God as to whether they should go to war. They were following Him, they were seeking Him, they were fasting before Him, they were crying to Him, they were in complete obedience. Yet, 40,000 men lost their lives during those two days of defeat, and 30 more men lost their lives on the day of victory. You see, in my life, I've done things believing that God is telling me to do them. Yet, every time I go into battle with His blessing, I fail. People think I'm crazy for continuing, but when I ask God if I should give up, the answer is always "Try again." I don't understand why this happens. Maybe God wants me to learn defeat so I can more appreciate the victory. Maybe He wants me to trust Him to the point of insanity to fellow observers to further refine my heart to give up everything. Maybe He desires obedience more than the outcome; that I should follow Him into victory or defeat with the same passion. I honestly don't know. Those first two days, He sent them out to fail. But, on the third day He gave them the victory. As a side note, I can't help but notice the three-day parallel to the story of Christ's victory over death on the third day.
