1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, 2 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: and said, this is one tribe cut off from Israel. 3 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: This day Judge is twenty one six to day, Lord, 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,799 Speaker 1: I realize that through the reading of Judges twenty and 5 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: twenty one, I can now see that sometimes you allow 6 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: battles and fights in my life to serve as realignment 7 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: for my focus and as resentering for my devotion. With 8 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: this truth, as I go into my battles, help me 9 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: to realize that you are my strength. Help me to 10 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: realize that you've always been my shield. Then I ask 11 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: that you forgive me for relying on anything else other 12 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: than your power and your glory to bring me through 13 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: the tough times. Like the children of Israel banded together 14 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: as one, I thank you that you are assembling an 15 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: army on my have to help right the wrongs of 16 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: the enemy. I decree and declare that even though the 17 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: battle may seem lost, I will double down, strengthen my resolve, 18 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: and declare victory over my enemies until I see the 19 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: manifestation of your promised ending. I stand in awe of 20 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: your faithfulness towards me, because even in my worst you 21 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: still pursue me with outstretched arms and a glorious future 22 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: for me in Jesus name. Amen, Thank you for praying 23 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: with us today. Continue your time with God by listening 24 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: to today's Bible story brought to you by Bible in 25 00:01:49,440 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: a Year dot com Obliteration of Benjamin. In our last story, 26 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: we learned about the downward spiral of Israel. Everybody did 27 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: what was right in their own eyes, paying no attention 28 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: to God's law or example. Some men from the tribe 29 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: of Benjamin brutally raped the concubine of Levite as a 30 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: message to the people of Israel. The Levite tore his 31 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: concubine into pieces and spread her limbs to all the 32 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: twelve tribes of Israel. The message was received loud and clear. 33 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: Now we see the rest of Israel take note. They 34 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: rise up against the Benjamites, and a civil war breaks 35 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: the backbone of God's people. Inspired by the Book of Judges, 36 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: Hello and Jack Graham, Pastor Prestonwood Baptist Church in the Dallas, 37 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: Texas area, with today's episode of the Bible in a 38 00:02:55,639 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: Year podcast. In yesterday's episode, we heard the terrible story 39 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: of Levite and his concubine. How his callous sinful heart 40 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 1: and careless ways led to the brutal rape and ultimate 41 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 1: death of his concubine. Seeking to gather people across Israel 42 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: to execute judgment on the perpetrators, and Gibbea, the Levites 43 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: sent her body parts out across the land to all 44 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: twelve tribes. Today, we'll hear the story of how the 45 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: people responded to his call for action, and we'll see 46 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 1: how the retaliation against Benjamin led to a civil war 47 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 1: in Israel. Who will now war within itself, straying further 48 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: and further away from God's plan for his people. There 49 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: will be no winners in this war, just a broken 50 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: nation that desperately needs salvation from their own sinful behavior. 51 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: Let's listen now to today's reading. The limbs of the 52 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: Levites concubines swung in front of all twelve tribes. They 53 00:03:55,560 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: looked both disgusted and terrified at the sight. The Leavite's 54 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: story of what happened that night spread like weeds. Every 55 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: chief listened as they were told of the men of 56 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: Benjamin raping and murdering the woman in place of the 57 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: Leavite man. Upon hearing the news, a strange resolve came 58 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: upon each tribe. It was almost as if they were 59 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:22,239 Speaker 1: realizing just how far Israel had fallen from the will 60 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: of God. All the people of Israel assembled together as 61 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: one nation. Four hundred thousand able bodied men with swords 62 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: gathered at Mispa to hear the Levite's story and seek 63 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 1: the counsel of God. The tribe of Benjamin heard of 64 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 1: their gathering, but decided to remain home. The leaders brought 65 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: the Leavite out in the open to share his story. There, 66 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: the Leavite spoke of his travels and how the men 67 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: of Benjamin sought to rape him, but instead brutalized his 68 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: concubine and left her for dead. All the people spoke 69 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: as one man, saying, Benjamin shall not go and punished. 70 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,359 Speaker 1: We will take the men who have done this and 71 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: go up against them. So the eleven tribes finally united 72 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 1: as one nation to rise up against the tribe of Benjamin. Together, 73 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: they made provisions and prepared for war. They marched towards 74 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: Gibea and camped at its outskirts. The next day, the 75 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: tribe sent men into the city to speak with the leaders. 76 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: They spoke together, saying, what has possessed you as a 77 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: tribe give up the men who killed the woman, so 78 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: we can purge Israel of this evil. The Benjamites refused. 79 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: Corruption had made its way into the innermost parts of 80 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: their collective heart. They knew no sense of nobility, no mercy, 81 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: no remorse. All they knew was that Israel wanted to 82 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: take away the freedom for them to commit evil. The 83 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: disdain of Cains seeped its way into their minds. They 84 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: raised an army to fight against their brothers. Twenty six 85 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: thousand Jamites drew their swords and stormed the valley of Gibbeah. 86 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: Among the men were seven hundred mighty Gibbonite warriors. Their 87 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: swings were fast and their aim was impeccable. They could 88 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 1: sling a stone and a hare and aim true. The 89 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: people of Israel rose from camp to Bethel. There they 90 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: met with God as Abraham did years before them. With 91 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: Benjamin approaching fast, the Israelites inquired of God, saying, who 92 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 1: shall lead the charge first against Benjamin. This was the 93 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: first time Israel had reached out to the Lord in years. 94 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: Their prayers were like rusted metal left alone for years 95 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: to collect dust. Yet God heard their prayers like a 96 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 1: sweet aroma. God did not delay in responding to them. 97 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: Send Judah first, God commanded. So the tribe of Judah 98 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: rose and descended towards the battlefield. Tribe clashed with tribe. 99 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 1: Brothers clashed with brothers. The blood of Benjamin and Judah 100 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: painted the grass below them. The Benjamites overpowered Judah and 101 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: struck them down with a colossal force. Twenty two thousand 102 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: men fell that day, and a tribe of Benjamin puffed 103 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: its chest and victory. Yet courage did not leave the 104 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: people of Israel. They stood before God again, determined to 105 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: reinstate him as their commander and king. They wept before 106 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 1: God and asked if they should rise up again against Benjamin. 107 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: Go up again, God said boldly, so again. They formed 108 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: a battle line in the same field. The Benjamites raged 109 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: towards them like a pack of wild wolves. Israel planted 110 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 1: their feet firmly in the ground and raised their shields. 111 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: Benjamin leaped towards them with swords and spears. Israel crumped 112 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: before them. Eighteen thousand men were torn limb from limb 113 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: under the brutal clause of Benjamin. Again, the people of 114 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: his reel limped their way up the mountain towards Bethel. 115 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: There they fell before God and sacrificed to him. They fasted, prayed, 116 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: and wept. Defeat had snapped them out of their apathetic days. 117 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: On that mountain, the children of Israel communed with their Lord. 118 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: A sweet intimacy could be felt among them as they 119 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: raised their voices to their king. There they asked God again, 120 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: shall we go up against Benjamin. The Lord spoke again, 121 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: this time promising them victory, saying, go up against Benjamin, 122 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: and I shall give them into your hand. The men 123 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: of Israel sent thirty men to clear the roads surrounding Gibea. 124 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: There they slew the men who kept guard over the roads. 125 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: Then they hid in waiting, ready to ambush Benjamin. When 126 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: they crossed to the valley at the end of the road, 127 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: ten thousand men waited for war. When the time came, 128 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 1: the armies of Benjamin marched up towards Israel on the roads. 129 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: There they were met with an Israelite onslaught. The battle 130 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: was bloodier and more terrifying than any battle they had 131 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:10,839 Speaker 1: experienced before. Men tumbled in the dirt, strangling the life 132 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: out of their Kinsmen swords flew through the air like spears, 133 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: and blood caked the dirt road. The Benjamites outnumbered the 134 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: Israelites two to one, Yet they could not fathom why 135 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: they were losing. But the people of Israel knew the 136 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 1: commander of heaven and Earth had gone before them. The 137 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob rose his fist against 138 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: the tribe of Benjamin. The god that crushed the Egyptians 139 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: imparted the seas, had returned to bring justice and peace 140 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: once again. The Israelite army gave some ground to Benjamin 141 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: to lure them into a false confidence. While this was happening, 142 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,199 Speaker 1: the men waiting on the road rushed towards the city 143 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: of Gibea to burn it to the ground. Just as 144 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 1: the Benjamites were gaining momentum, they turned to see their 145 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: city up in flames. Their spirit s broke, and they 146 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: tucked their tails and ran into the wilderness. The tribe 147 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: of Benjamin spread across the land, splitting up to escape Israel. 148 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell in the wilderness, five thousand were 149 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: slashed on the highways, two thousand of them were captured 150 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 1: and killed in the town of Guidem. A total of 151 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: twenty five thousand men bowed under the righteous sword of 152 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: the Almighty God. All of Benjamin was utterly destroyed under 153 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: sword and flame. There were no festivals of victory. There 154 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: were no feasts or music celebrating the warriors. No, there 155 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: was only sadness. A tribe of Israel had been obliterated 156 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: for their wickedness in actuality. It was a wickedness they 157 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: themselves were not too far from committing. The men and 158 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: women of Israel went back to Bethel and sat there 159 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: until evening before God. They wept and mourned their fallen brothers. 160 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: Why has this happened, they asked God. Today there is 161 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 1: a tribe missing in Israel. The people rose up early 162 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: that next morning to offer sacrifices to God. Yet the 163 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: tribe of Benjamin was not totally lost. There still remained 164 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 1: a few survivors from the armies of Benjamin. Gods sought 165 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: to restore them and bring the tribe back into the 166 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 1: family of Israel. God spoke clearly, saying, there was one 167 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: family of Israel that did not fight alongside you. The 168 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: people of Jebesh Giliad abandoned Israel in their greatest hour 169 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: of need. Go up against them and slay them. Then 170 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: you shall give the virgin daughters of that family to 171 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 1: the survivors of Benjamin. So Israel enacted vengeance on Jebeesh 172 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: Giliad for their betrayal and abandonment. Then four hundred of 173 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: the young women in that tribe were married to the 174 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: young men of Benjamin. Together, the young men and women 175 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: rebuilt Gilead and restored the tribe of Benjamin. They had 176 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: returned to God when all hope seemed to be crumbling 177 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: before them, and God saved them once again. Yet the 178 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: story of disobedience and lawlessness does not end. Yet the 179 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 1: people of Israel lived without a king to rule them 180 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: or a God to worship. They did what was right 181 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: in their own eyes and walked the line between good 182 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: and evil. Yet the Lord follows them, seeking to restore 183 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: them to himself and protect them from danger. For God 184 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: made a covenant with them, and although they broke their 185 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: promises time and time again, the Lord would never fail. 186 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: We begin today's reading as all the tribes of Israel 187 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: are coming together in response to the message sent by 188 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: the Levite, all except Benjamin. Even though they had straightfar 189 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: from God. The sight of the dismembered woman's body part 190 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: was too much for Israel to overlook. Something had to 191 00:12:57,160 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: be done. Justice had to be accomplished. The Levite recounts 192 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: to them the story of the horrors he was met 193 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 1: with in Gibbea and how the men of the town 194 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: brutalized his concubine and left her dead. Missing from his 195 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 1: description is his own culpability and how he had sacrificed 196 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:20,599 Speaker 1: this woman for his own safety. The eleven tribes resolved 197 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: that the men who did this must be brought to justice, 198 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: but when they sent a delegation down to Gibbea, the 199 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: Benjamin knights refused to hand them over. Rather than gather 200 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:34,199 Speaker 1: up the guilty, they gathered up an army. This, of course, 201 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: gets very ugly, and so the people of Israel approached 202 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: God seeking his guidance. This was no small step. For 203 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: so long they had cared very little for what God 204 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: had to say, and this horrific act had turned them 205 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: back to him. Hopefully. God told them to fight against Benjamin. 206 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: Judah was the first tribe to go up against them, 207 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 1: and they suffered a crushing defeat. The army of Benjamin 208 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: was strong intent on winning. Evil, though it will never 209 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: win in the end, will sometimes prevail Momentarily, Israel was 210 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: not deterred, and weeping, they went to God. He told 211 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: them to strike again. This time, another eighteen thousand of 212 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:18,959 Speaker 1: Israel's men fell to Benjamin. Now they not only wept, 213 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: but fasted and prayed to God and offered offerings to 214 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: the Lord. It was a closeness that God had not 215 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: experienced with his children in many years. God responds in 216 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: Judges twenty twenty eight with these words, go up for tomorrow. 217 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: I will give them into your hand. Emboldened, they fought again, 218 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: this time winning a fight that they should have lost. 219 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: It was not in their own strength they returned. It 220 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: was because of God's favor and protection and power. Now 221 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: there are two very important lessons here. First, just because 222 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: God says God does not guarantee victory twice he told 223 00:14:56,000 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: them to fight and yet they lost, was God breaking promise, 224 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: not making good on his word. Not at all. He 225 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 1: never promised victory. He only told them to go and 226 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: obey him. Secondly, when God does make a promise, he 227 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: will always deliver in his own way and in his 228 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: own time. Notice when God spoke to them a third time, 229 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: he told them to go and they would win, and 230 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: they did because God said, so the tribe of Benjamin 231 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: was all that wiped out, but God still had a 232 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: purpose for them, and he heard the cries of their remnant. 233 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: The men of Benjamin needed wives to marry, so God 234 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: delivered them to the town of Javish Gilead, who had 235 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: failed to join Israel in their pursuit of justice and 236 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: fight against Benjamin. The men were slaughtered and the daughters 237 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: were given in marriage to Benjamin. At the end of 238 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: the day, there are no real winners here. And though 239 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: justice was served and Israel returned for a moment to God, 240 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: their sinful and rebellious ways were far from over. The 241 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: psycho would begin again disobedience, discipline, disaster. But through it 242 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: all God remained watchful as a concerned parent, waiting for 243 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: the time to rescue his people. Dear God, thank you 244 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: for your word and the promise of your enduring, eternal 245 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: faithfulness to Israel and to all your people. May God 246 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: help us always to obey you and boldally follow you 247 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: no matter what. Help us to trust in You at 248 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: all times, no matter what happens in Jesus name. Amen. 249 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in the Year podcast. 250 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: I'm Jack Graham of Dallas, Texas, and you can download 251 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: the Prey dot com app and make prayer the priority 252 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: of your life. It is our prayer that you would 253 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: know Jesus Christ in a personal way. Jesus and knowing 254 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: him is the key to understanding the Bible. Jesus is 255 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: on every page in the pathway of Scripture, so I 256 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: pray that you would know him and look to Him 257 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 1: for eternal life. As we see all of these stories, 258 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: some of them very sordid, we realize just how desperately 259 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: we all need the Lord. So invite Christ into your 260 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:14,679 Speaker 1: life and receive Him as your Lord and savior. I 261 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: would also encourage you to download the Prey dot com 262 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: app and let others know about this podcast. And if 263 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:24,479 Speaker 1: you want more resources on how to know God and 264 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: experience his presence in your life, be sure to visit 265 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 1: Jack Graham dot org. God bless you. This episode is 266 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 1: sponsored by Medicine, an innovative healthcare solution for Christians to 267 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: save money without sacrificing quality.