1 00:00:00,800 --> 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 00:00:09,440 --> 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 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: of Judges twenty and twenty one, I can now see 6 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: that sometimes you allow battles and fights in my life 7 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:30,720 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 00:00:34,920 --> 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 have 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 00:00:47,720 --> 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 --> 00:01:04,080 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 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: even though the battle may seem lost, I will double down, 18 00:01:13,480 --> 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. Thy 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 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: my worst you still pursue me with outstretched arms and 22 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: the 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 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: God by listening to today's Bible story brought to you 25 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: by Bible in a Year dot. 26 00:01:52,480 --> 00:02:08,160 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 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 2: right in their own eyes, paying no attention to God's 29 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 2: law or example. Some men from the tribe of Benjamin 30 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:24,160 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 --> 00:02:31,560 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 Benjamines, and a civil war breaks the 36 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 2: backbone of God's people. Inspired by the Book of Judges. 37 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in 38 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 3: the Dallas, Texas area, with today's episode of the Bible 39 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. In yesterday today's episode, we heard 40 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 3: the terrible story of Levite and his concubine, how his callous, 41 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 3: sinful heart and careless ways led to the brutal rape 42 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 3: and ultimate death of his concubine. Seeking to gather people 43 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 3: across Israel to execute judgment on the perpetrators in Gibbea, 44 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 3: the Levite sent her body parts out across the land 45 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 3: to all twelve tribes. Today, we'll hear the story of 46 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 3: how the people responded to his call for action, and 47 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 3: we'll see how the retaliation against Benjamin led to a 48 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 3: civil war in Israel. Who will now war within itself, 49 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 3: straying 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 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 3: broken nation that desperately needs salvation from their own sinful behavior. 52 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:50,600 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 story of what happened that night 56 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 2: spread like weeds. Every chief listened as they were told 57 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 2: of the men of Benjamin raping and murdering the woman 58 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,760 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 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 2: fallen from the will of God. All the people of 62 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 2: Israel assembled together as one nation. Four hundred thousand able 63 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 2: bodied men with swords gathered at Mizpah to hear the 64 00:04:35,680 --> 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 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 2: The leaders brought the Levite out in the open to 67 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 2: share his story. There, the Levite spoke of his travels 68 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 2: and how the men of Benjamin sought to rape him, 69 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: but instead brutalized his concubine and left her for dead. 70 00:04:57,520 --> 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 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: done this and go up against them. So the eleven 73 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: tribes finally united as one nation to rise up against 74 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 2: the tribe of Benjamin. Together, they made provisions and prepared 75 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 2: for war. They marched towards Gibeah 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 --> 00:05:34,400 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 --> 00:05:42,920 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 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 2: its way into their minds. They raised an army to 86 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,360 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 Gibea. 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 --> 00:06:19,159 Speaker 2: at a hare and aim true. The people of Israel 91 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 2: rose from camp to Bethel. There they met with God 92 00:06:22,760 --> 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 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 2: charge first against Benjamin. This was the first time Israel 95 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 2: had reached out to the Lord in years. Their prayers 96 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 2: were like rusted metal left alone for years to collect dust. 97 00:06:43,600 --> 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 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 2: God commanded, so the tribe of Judah arose and descended 100 00:06:56,040 --> 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 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 2: below them. The Benjaminites overpowered Judah and struck them down 103 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:13,880 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 and 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 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 2: they should rise up again against Benjamin. Go up again, 109 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 2: God said boldly. 110 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: So again. 111 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 2: They formed a battle line in the same field. The 112 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: Benjamines raged towards them like a pack of wild wolves. 113 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 2: Israel planted their feet firmly in the ground and raised 114 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 2: their shields. Benjamin leaped towards them with swords and spears. 115 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 4: Israel crumbled before them. Eighteen thousand men were torn limb 116 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 4: from limb under the brutal claws of Benjamin. Again, the 117 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 4: people of Israel limped their way up the mountain towards Bethel. 118 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 4: There they fell before God and sacrificed to him. They fasted, prayed, 119 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 4: and wept. Defeat had snapped them out of their apathetic days. 120 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 4: On that mountain, the children of Israel communed with their Lord. 121 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 4: A sweet intimacy could be felt among them as they 122 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 4: raised their voices to their king. There they asked God again, 123 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 4: shall we go up against Benjamin. The Lord spoke again, 124 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 4: this time promising them victory, saying, go up against Benjamin, 125 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,839 Speaker 4: and I shall give them into your hand. The men 126 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 4: of Israel sent thirty men to clear the roads surrounding Gibeah. 127 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 4: There they slew the men who kept guard over the roads. 128 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 4: Then they hid in waiting, ready to ambush Benjamin. When 129 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 4: they crossed to the valley at the end of the road, 130 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 4: ten thousand men waited for war. When the time came, 131 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 4: the armies of Benjamin marched up towards is on the roads. 132 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 4: There they were met with an Israelite onslaught. The battle 133 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 4: was bloodier and more terrifying than any battle they had 134 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 4: experienced before. Men tumbled in the dirt, strangling the life 135 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 4: out of their Kinsmen swords. 136 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 2: Flew through the air, like spears, and blood caked the 137 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 2: dirt road. The Benjamites outnumbered the Israelites two to one, 138 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 2: Yet they could not fathom why they were losing. But 139 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 2: the people of Israel knew the commander of heaven and 140 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 2: Earth had gone before them. The God of Abraham, Isaac 141 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 2: and Jacob rose his fist against the tribe of Benjamin. 142 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 2: The god that crushed the Egyptians and parted the seas 143 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 2: had returned to bring justice and peace once again. The 144 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 2: Israelite army gave some ground to Benjamin to lure them 145 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:51,319 Speaker 2: into a false confidence. While this was happening, the men 146 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 2: waiting on the road rushed towards the city of Gibeah 147 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 2: to burn it to the ground. Just as the Benjamites 148 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 2: were gaining momentum, they turned to see their up in flames. 149 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 2: Their spirits broke, and they tucked their tails and ran 150 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 2: into the wilderness. The tribe of Benjamin spread across the land, 151 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 2: splitting up to escape Israel. Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell in 152 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 2: the wilderness, five thousand were slashed on the highways, two 153 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 2: thousand of them were captured and killed in the town 154 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 2: of Guidem. A total of twenty five thousand men bowed 155 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 2: under the righteous sword of the Almighty God. All of 156 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 2: Benjamin was utterly destroyed under sword and flame. There were 157 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 2: no festivals of victory. There were no feasts or music 158 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 2: celebrating the warriors. No, there was only sadness. A tribe 159 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 2: of Israel had been obliterated for their wickedness an actuality. 160 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 2: It was a wickedness they themselves were not too far 161 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 2: from committing. The men and women of Israel went back 162 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 2: to Bethel and sat there until evening before God. They 163 00:10:55,960 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 2: wept and mourned their fallen brothers. Why has this happened, 164 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 2: they asked God. Today there is a tribe missing in Israel. 165 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 2: The people rose up early that next morning to offer 166 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 2: sacrifices to God. Yet the tribe of Benjamin was not 167 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 2: totally lost. There still remained a few survivors from the 168 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 2: armies of Benjamin. God sought to restore them and bring 169 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 2: the tribe back into the family of Israel. God spoke clearly, saying, 170 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 2: there was one family of Israel that did not fight 171 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 2: alongside you. The people of Zebesh Gilead abandoned Israel in 172 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 2: their greatest hour of need. Go up against them and 173 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 2: slay them. Then you shall give the virgin daughters of 174 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 2: that family to the survivors of Benjamin. So Israel enacted 175 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 2: vengeance on Jibesh Gilead for their betrayal and abandonment. Then 176 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 2: four hundred of the young women in that tribe were 177 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 2: married to the young men of Benjamin. Together, the young 178 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 2: men and women rebuilt Gilead and restored the tribe of Benjamin. 179 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 2: They had returned to God when all hope seemed to 180 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 2: be crumbling before them, and God saved them once again. 181 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 2: Yet the story of disobedience and lawlessness does not end. 182 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 2: Yet the people of Israel lived without a king to 183 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 2: rule them or a God to worship. They did what 184 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,199 Speaker 2: was right in their own eyes and walked the line 185 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 2: between good and evil. Yet the Lord follows them, seeking 186 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 2: to restore them to himself and protect them from danger. 187 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 2: For God made a covenant with them, and although they 188 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 2: broke their promises time and time again, the Lord would 189 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 2: never fail. 190 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,319 Speaker 3: We begin today's reading as all the tribes of Israel 191 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 3: are coming together in response to the message sent by 192 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 3: the Levite, all except Benjamin, even though they had stray 193 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 3: far from God. The sight of the dismembered woman's body 194 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 3: part was too much for Israel to overlook. Something had 195 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 3: to be done. Justice had to be accomplished. The Levite 196 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 3: recounts to them the story of the horrors he was 197 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 3: met with in Gibea, and how the men of the 198 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 3: town brutalized his concubine and left her dead. Missing from 199 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 3: his description is his own culpability and how he had 200 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 3: sacrificed this woman for his own safety. The eleven tribes 201 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 3: resolved that the men who did this must be brought 202 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 3: to justice, but when they sent a delegation down to Gibea, 203 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 3: the Benjamin Nights refused to hand them over. Rather than 204 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:36,079 Speaker 3: gather up the guilty, they gathered up an army. This, 205 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 3: of course, gets very ugly, and so the people of 206 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 3: Israel approached God seeking his guidance. This was no small step. 207 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 3: For so long they had cared very little for what 208 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 3: God had to say, and this horrific act had turned 209 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 3: them back to him. Hopefully. God told them to fight 210 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 3: against Benjamin. Judah was the first tribe to go up 211 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 3: against them, and they suffered a crushing defeat. The army 212 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 3: of Benjamin was strong and intent on winning. Evil, though 213 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,559 Speaker 3: it will never win in the end, will sometimes prevail Momentarily, 214 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 3: Israel was not deterred, and weeping, they went to God. 215 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 3: He told them to strike again. This time, another eighteen 216 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 3: thousand of Israel's men fell to Benjamin. Now they not 217 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 3: only wept, but fasted and prayed to God and offered 218 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 3: offerings to the Lord. It was a closeness that God 219 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 3: had not experienced with his children in many years. God 220 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 3: responds in Judges twenty twenty eight with these words, go 221 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 3: up for tomorrow. I will give them into your hand. Emboldened, 222 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 3: they fought again, this time winning a fight that they 223 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 3: should have lost. It was not in their own strength 224 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 3: they returned. It was because of God's favor and protection 225 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 3: and power. Now there are two very important lessons here. First, 226 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 3: just because God says go does not guarantee victory. Twice 227 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 3: he told them to fight, and yet they was God 228 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 3: breaking a promise, not making good on his word. Not 229 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 3: at all. He never promised victory. He only told them 230 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 3: to go and obey him. Secondly, when God does make 231 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 3: a promise, he will always deliver in his own way 232 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 3: and in his own time. Notice when God spoke to 233 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 3: them a third time, he told them to go and 234 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 3: they would win, and they did because God said so. 235 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 3: The tribe of Benjamin was all but wiped out, but 236 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 3: God still had a purpose for them, and he heard 237 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 3: the cries of their remnant. The men of Benjamin needed 238 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 3: wives to marry, so God delivered them to the town 239 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 3: of Javis Gilead, who had failed to join Israel in 240 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 3: their pursuit of justice and fight against Benjamin. The men 241 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 3: were slaughtered and the daughters were given in marriage to Benjamin. 242 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 3: At the end of the day, there are no real 243 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 3: winners here. And though justice was served and Israel returned 244 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 3: for a moment to God, their sinful and rebellious ways 245 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 3: were far from over. The cycle would begin again, disobedience, discipline, disaster. 246 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 3: But through it all God remain watchful as a concerned parent, 247 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 3: waiting for the time to rescue his people. Dear God, 248 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 3: thank you for your word and the promise of your enduring, 249 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 3: eternal faithfulness to Israel and to all your people. May 250 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 3: God help us always to obey you and boldally follow 251 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 3: you no matter what, Help us to trust in You 252 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 3: at all times, no matter what happens. In Jesus's name. Amen. 253 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible of the Year podcast. 254 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 3: I'm Jack Graham of Dallas, Texas, and you can download 255 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 3: the Prey dot com app and make prayer the priority 256 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 3: of your life. It is our prayer that you would 257 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 3: know Jesus Christ in a personal way. Jesus and knowing 258 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 3: him is the key to understanding the Bible. Jesus is 259 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 3: on every page in the pathway of Scripture, so I 260 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 3: pray that you would know him and look to Him 261 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 3: for eternal life. As we see all of these stories, 262 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 3: some of them very sordid, we realize just how desperately 263 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 3: we all need the Lord. So invite Christ into your 264 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 3: life and receive Him as your Lord and savior. I 265 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 3: would also encourage you to download the pray dot com 266 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:23,239 Speaker 3: app and let others know about this podcast. And if 267 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 3: you want more resources on how to know God and 268 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:30,440 Speaker 3: experience his presence in your life, be sure to visit 269 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 3: Jack Graham dot org. God bless you.