1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,000 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and the children of Israel repented them 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: for Benjamin their brother, and said, this is one tribe 3 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: cut off from Israel. This day, Judge is twenty one 4 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: six to day, Lord, I realize that through the reading 5 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: of Judges twenty and twenty one, I can now see 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: that sometimes you allow battles and fights in my life 7 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: to serve as realignment for my focus and as recentering 8 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 1: for my devotion. With this truth, as I go into 9 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: my battles, help me to realize that you are my strength. 10 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: Help me to realize that you've always been my shield. 11 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: Then I ask that you forgive me for relying on 12 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: anything else other than your power and your glory to 13 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: bring me through the tough times. Like the children of 14 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: Israel banded together as one, I thank you that you 15 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: are assembling an army on my behalf to help right 16 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: the wrongs of the enemy. Thy decree and declare that 17 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: even though the battle may seem lost, I will double down, 18 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: strengthen my resolve, and declare victory over my enemies until 19 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: I see the manifestation of your promised ending. I stand 20 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: in awe of your faithfulness towards me, because even in 21 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: my worst you still pursue me with outstretched arms and 22 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:43,559 Speaker 1: a glorious future for me in Jesus name. Amen. Thank 23 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: you for praying with us today. Continue your time with 24 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: God by listening to today's Bible story brought to you 25 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: by Bible in a Year dot. 26 00:01:52,480 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: Com Obliteration of Benjamin. In our last story, we learned 27 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 2: about the downward spiral of Israel. Everybody did what was 28 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 2: right in their own eyes, paying no attention to God's 29 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 2: law or example. Some men from the tribe of Benjamin 30 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 2: brutally raped the concubine of Levite as a message to 31 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 2: the people of Israel. The Levite tore his concubine into 32 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 2: pieces and spread her limbs to all the twelve tribes 33 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: of Israel. The message was received loud and clear. Now 34 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 2: we see the rest of Israel take note. They rise 35 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 2: up against the Benjamites, and a civil war breaks the 36 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 2: backbone of God's people. Inspired by the Book of Judges. 37 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham, pastor Prestonwood Baptist Church in the Dallas, 38 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 3: Texas area, with today's episode of the Bible in a 39 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 3: Year podcast. In yesterday today's episode, we heard the terrible 40 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 3: story of Levite and his concubine, how his callous, sinful 41 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 3: heart and careless ways led to the brutal rape and 42 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 3: ultimate death of his concubine. Seeking to gather people across 43 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 3: Israel to execute judgment on the perpetrators in Gibbea, the 44 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 3: Levite sent her body parts out across the land to 45 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 3: all twelve tribes. Today, we'll hear the story of how 46 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 3: the people responded to his call for action, and we'll 47 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 3: see how the retaliation against Benjamin led to a civil 48 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 3: war in Israel. Who will now war within itself, straying 49 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 3: further and further away from God's plan for his people. 50 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 3: There will be no winners in this war, just a 51 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 3: broken nation that desperately needs salvation from their own sinful behavior. 52 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 3: Let's listen now to today's reading. 53 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: The limbs of the Levitees concubines swung in front of 54 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 2: all twelve tribes. They looked both disgusted and terrified at 55 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: the sight. The Levite's story of what happened that night 56 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 2: spread like weeds. Every chief listened as they were told 57 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 2: of the men of Benjamin raping and murdering the woman 58 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 2: in place of the Levite man. Upon hearing the news, 59 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: a strange resolve came upon each tribe. It was almost 60 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 2: as if they were realizing just how far Israel had 61 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 2: fallen from the will of God. All the people of 62 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 2: Israel assembled together as one nation. Four hundred thousand able 63 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 2: bodied men with swords gathered at Mizpah to hear the 64 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 2: Levite's story and seek the counsel of God. The tribe 65 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 2: of Benjamin heard of their gathering, but decided to remain home. 66 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 2: The leaders brought the Levite out in the open to 67 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 2: share his story. There, the Levite spoke of his travels 68 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 2: and how the men of Benjamin sought to rape him, 69 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: but instead brutalized his concubine and left her for dead. 70 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 2: All the people spoke as one man, saying, Benjamin shall 71 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: not go unpunished. We will take the men who have 72 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 2: done this and go up against them. So the eleven 73 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: tribes finally united as one nation to rise up against 74 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,799 Speaker 2: the tribe of Benjamin. Together, they made provisions and prepared 75 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 2: for war. They marched towards Gibea and camped at its outskirts. 76 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: The next day, the tribe sent men into the city 77 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 2: to speak with the leaders. They spoke together, saying, what 78 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: has possessed you as a tribe. Give up the men 79 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 2: who killed the woman, so we can purge Israel of 80 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 2: this evil. The Benjamines refused. Corruption had made its way 81 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 2: into the innermost parts of their collective heart. They knew 82 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: no sense of nobility, no mercy, no remorse. All they 83 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 2: knew was that Israel wanted to take away the freedom 84 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 2: for them to commit evil. The disdain of Caines seeped 85 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 2: its way into their minds. They raised an army to 86 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 2: fight against their brothers. Twenty six thousand Benjamites drew their 87 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 2: swords and stormed the valley of Gibeac. Among the men 88 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 2: were seven hundred mighty Ghibbonite warriors. Their swings were fast 89 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 2: and their aim was impeccable. They could sling a stone 90 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 2: at a hare and aim true. The people of Israel 91 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,679 Speaker 2: rose from camp to Bethel. There they met with God 92 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: as Abraham did years before them. With Benjamin approaching fast, 93 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 2: the Israelites inquired of God, saying, who shall lead the 94 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,679 Speaker 2: charge first against Benjamin. This was the first time Israel 95 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 2: had reached out to the Lord in years. Their prayers 96 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 2: were like rusted metal left alone for years to collect dust. 97 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 2: Yet God heard their prayers like a sweet aroma. God 98 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 2: did not delay in responding to them. Send Judah first, 99 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: God commanded, so the tribe of Judah arose and descended 100 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 2: towards the battlefield. Tribe clashed with tribe. Brothers clashed with brothers, 101 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 2: and the blood of Benjamin and Judah painted the grass 102 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 2: below them. The Benjamines overpowered Judah and struck them down 103 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 2: with a colossal force. Twenty two thousand men fell that day, 104 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: and the tribe of Benjamin puffed its chest in victory. 105 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 2: Yet courage did not leave the people of Israel. They 106 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 2: stood before God again, determined to reinstate him as their 107 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 2: commander and king. They wept before God and asked if 108 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 2: they should rise up again against Benjamin. Go up again, 109 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 2: God said boldly, so again. They formed a battle line 110 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 2: in the same field. The Benjamines raged towards them like 111 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 2: a pack of wild wolves. Israel planted their feet firmly 112 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:49,679 Speaker 2: in the ground and raised their shields. Benjamin leaped towards 113 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 2: them with swords and spears. Israel crumbed before them. Eighteen 114 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 2: thousand men were torn limb from limb under the brutal 115 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 2: claws of Benjamin. Again, the people of Israel limped their 116 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 2: way up the mountain towards Bethel. There they fell before 117 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 2: God and sacrificed to him. They fasted, prayed, and wept. 118 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 2: Defeat had snapped them out of their apathetic days. On 119 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 2: that mountain, the children of Israel communed with their Lord. 120 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 2: A sweet intimacy could be felt among them as they 121 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 2: raised their voices to their king. There they asked God again, 122 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 2: shall we go up against Benjamin. The Lord spoke again, 123 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 2: this time promising them victory, saying, go up against Benjamin, 124 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 2: and I shall give them into your hand. The men 125 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 2: of Israel sent thirty men to clear the roads surrounding Gibeah. 126 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 2: There they slew the men who kept guard over the roads. 127 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 2: Then they hid in waiting, ready to ambush Benjamin. When 128 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 2: they crossed to the valley at the end of the road, 129 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 2: ten thousand men waited for war. When the time came, 130 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 2: the armies of Benjamin marched up towards Israel on the roads. 131 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 2: There they were met with an Israelite onslaught. The battle 132 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 2: was bloodier and more terrifying than any battle they had 133 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 2: experienced before. Men tumbled in the dirt, strangling the life 134 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:17,119 Speaker 2: out of their Kinsmen swords flew through the air like spears, 135 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 2: and blood caked the dirt road. The Benjamines outnumbered the 136 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,679 Speaker 2: Israelites two to one, Yet they could not fathom why 137 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 2: they were losing. But the people of Israel knew the 138 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 2: commander of heaven and Earth had gone before them. The 139 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 2: God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob rose his fist against 140 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:39,319 Speaker 2: the tribe of Benjamin. The god that crushed the Egyptians 141 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 2: and parted the seas had returned to bring justice and 142 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 2: peace once again. The Israelite army gave some ground to 143 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 2: Benjamin to lure them into a false confidence. While this 144 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 2: was happening, the men waiting on the road rushed towards 145 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 2: the city of Gibeah to burn it to the ground. 146 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 2: Just as the Benjaminites were gaining momentum, they turned to 147 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 2: see their sin up in flames. Their spirits broke, and 148 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 2: they tucked their tails and ran into the wilderness. The 149 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 2: tribe of Benjamin spread across the land, splitting up to 150 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:15,439 Speaker 2: escape Israel. Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell in the wilderness, five 151 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 2: thousand were slashed on the highways, two thousand of them 152 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 2: were captured and killed in the town of Guidem a 153 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 2: total of twenty five thousand men bowed under the righteous 154 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:29,439 Speaker 2: sword of the Almighty God. All of Benjamin was utterly 155 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 2: destroyed under sword and flame. There were no festivals of victory. 156 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 2: There were no feasts or music celebrating the warriors. No, 157 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 2: there was only sadness. A tribe of Israel had been 158 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 2: obliterated for their wickedness an actuality. It was a wickedness 159 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 2: they themselves were not too far from committing. The men 160 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 2: and women of Israel went back to Bethel and sat 161 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 2: there until evening before God. They wept and mourned their 162 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 2: fallen brothers. Why has this happened, they asked God. Today 163 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 2: there is a tribe missing in Israel. The people rose 164 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 2: up early that next morning to offer sacrifices to God. 165 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 2: Yet the tribe of Benjamin was not totally lost. There 166 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 2: still remained a few survivors from the armies of Benjamin. 167 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 2: God sought to restore them and bring the tribe back 168 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 2: into the family of Israel. God spoke clearly, saying, there 169 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 2: was one family of Israel that did not fight alongside you. 170 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 2: The people of Zebesh Gilead abandoned Israel in their greatest 171 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:36,359 Speaker 2: hour of need. Go up against them and slay them. 172 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 2: Then you shall give the virgin daughters of that family 173 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 2: to the survivors of Benjamin. So Israel enacted vengeance on 174 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 2: Jibesh Gilead for their betrayal and abandonment. Then four hundred 175 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 2: of the young women in that tribe were married to 176 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 2: the young men of Benjamin. Together, the young men and 177 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 2: women rebuilt Gilead and restored the tribe of Benjamin. They 178 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 2: had returned to God when all hope seemed to be 179 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 2: crumbling before them, and God saved them once again. Yet 180 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 2: the story of disobedience and lawlessness does not end. Yet 181 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 2: the people of Israel lived without a king to rule 182 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 2: them or a God to worship. They did what was 183 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 2: right in their own eyes and walked the line between 184 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 2: good and evil. Yet the Lord follows them, seeking to 185 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 2: restore them to himself and protect them from danger. For 186 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,079 Speaker 2: God made a covenant with them, and although they broke 187 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 2: their promises time and time again, the Lord would never fail. 188 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,319 Speaker 3: We begin today's reading as all the tribes of Israel 189 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 3: are coming together in response to the message sent by 190 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 3: the Levite, all except Benjamin, even though they had straight 191 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 3: far from God, the sight of the dismembered woman's body 192 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 3: part was too much for Israel to overlook. Something had 193 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 3: to be done. Justice had to be accomplished. The Levite 194 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 3: recounts to them the story of the horrors he was 195 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 3: met with in Gibea and how the men of the 196 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 3: town brutalized his concubine and left her dead. Missing from 197 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 3: his description is his own culpability and how he had 198 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 3: sacrificed this woman for his own safety. The eleven tribes 199 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 3: resolved that the men who did this must be brought 200 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 3: to justice, but when they sent a delegation down to Gibea, 201 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 3: the Benjamin Nights refused to hand them over. Rather than 202 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 3: gather up the guilty, they gathered up an army. This, 203 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 3: of course, gets very ugly, and so the people of 204 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 3: Israel approached God seeking his guidance. This was no small step. 205 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 3: For so long they had cared very little for what 206 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 3: God had to say, and this horrific act had turned 207 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 3: them back to him. Hopefully. God told them to fight 208 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 3: against Benjamin. Judah was the first tribe to go up 209 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 3: against them, and they suffered a crushing defeat. The army 210 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 3: of Benjamin was strong and intent on winning. Evil, though 211 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 3: it will never win in the end, will sometimes prevail. Momentarily, 212 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 3: Israel was not deterred, and weeping, they went to God. 213 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 3: He told them to strike again. This time, another eighteen 214 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 3: thousand of Israel's men fell to Benjamin. Now they not 215 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 3: only wept, but fasted and prayed to God and offered 216 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 3: offerings to the Lord. It was a closeness that God 217 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 3: had not experienced with his children in many years. God 218 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 3: responds in Judges twenty twenty eight with these words, go 219 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 3: up for tomorrow, I will give them into your hand. Emboldened, 220 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 3: they fought again, this time winning a fight that they 221 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 3: should have lost. It was not in their own strength 222 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 3: they returned. It was because of God's favor and protection 223 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 3: and power. Now there are two very important lessons here. First, 224 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 3: just because God says go does not guarantee victory. Twice 225 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 3: he told them to fight, and yet they was God 226 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 3: breaking a promise, not making good on his word. Not 227 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 3: at all. He never promised victory. He only told them 228 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 3: to go and obey him. Secondly, when God does make 229 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 3: a promise, he will always deliver in his own way 230 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 3: and in his own time. Notice when God spoke to 231 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 3: them a third time, he told them to go and 232 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 3: they would win, and they did because God said so. 233 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 3: The tribe of Benjamin was all but wiped out, but 234 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 3: God still had a purpose for them, and he heard 235 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 3: the cries of their remnant. The men of Benjamin needed 236 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 3: wives to marry, so God delivered them to the town 237 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 3: of Javis Gilead, who had failed to join Israel in 238 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 3: their pursuit of justice and fight against Benjamin. The men 239 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 3: were slaughtered and the daughters were given in marriage to Benjamin. 240 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 3: At the end of the day, there are no real 241 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 3: winners here. And though justice was served and Israel returned 242 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 3: for a moment to God, their sinful and rebellious ways 243 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 3: were far from over. The cycle would begin again, disobedience, discipline, disaster. 244 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 3: But through it all God remain watchful as a concerned parent, 245 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 3: waiting for the time to rescue his people. Dear God, 246 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 3: thank you for your word and the promise of your enduring, 247 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 3: eternal faithfulness to Israel and to all your people. May 248 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 3: God help us always to obey you and boldally follow 249 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 3: you no matter what. Help us to trust in You 250 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 3: at all times, no matter what happens. In Jesus' name, Amen, 251 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 3: thank you for listening to today's Bible of the Year podcast. 252 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 3: I'm Jack Graham of Dallas, Texas, and you can download 253 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 3: theprey dot com app and make prayer the priority of 254 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 3: your life. It is our prayer that you would know 255 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 3: Jesus Christ in a personal way. Jesus and knowing him 256 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 3: is the key to understanding the Bible. Jesus is on 257 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 3: every page in the pathway of Scripture, so I pray 258 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 3: that you would know Him and look to Him for 259 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,360 Speaker 3: eternal life. As we see all of these stories, some 260 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 3: of them very sordid, we realize just how desperately we 261 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 3: all need the Lord. So invite Christ into your life 262 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 3: and receive Him as your Lord and savior. I would 263 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 3: also encourage you to download the pray dot com app 264 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 3: and let others know about this podcast. And if you 265 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 3: want more resources on how to know God and experience 266 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 3: his presence in your life, be sure to visit Jack 267 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 3: Graham dot org. God bless you.