It is Your Choice

 

Judges 20:27-36

         February 13, 2021

 

•  And the people of Israel inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?” And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”

So, Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah.   And the people of Israel went up against the people of Benjamin on the third day and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.   And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times, they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.   And the people of Benjamin said, “They are routed before us, as at the first.” But the people of Israel said, “Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways.”   And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed out of their place from Maareh-geba.    And there came against Gibeah 10,000 chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was hard, but the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them.   And the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who drew the sword.   So, the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated.

A great lesson for many of us who are followers of Christ, this time the people had the high priest Phinehas ask God if it was or to go against their brothers, but also would He give them victory.  How the modern church wants victory with no loss of lives, but God did not say that did He, just that He would give them the victory.  About thirty men of Israel lost their lives that day.  But did you see the Lord defeated Benjamin on that day and Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin?

Today our nation is overall a godless place with God-haters in the ruling class, some of them even religious and have made a god in their own image, a god who hates and does evil.  As a member of the Christian Army, who has been in the service of the US military, and has a deep love for the Constitution of the United States of America, I am torn between two kingdoms.  One is of this world, and the apostle John makes clear in 1 John 2:17,  ^“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”  Yet many of us who are a follower of Christ has yet to understand this world is not home, we are just passing through.  Many have taken more interest in this worldly kingdom and have gone AWOL from their post in the Army of Christ.  They have lost their first love, and have chosen to no longer have their identity in Christ but as a Republican or Democrat.  Not much has changed since the leadership of Israel told Peter & John to no longer teach or preach in the name of Jesus, do you recall their answer?  Acts 4:19-20, “But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”   They were called to be Ambassadors for Christ; do you understand that the call of all who are followers of Christ.

 

There are two kingdoms, one is of the world and it is passing away, the other is eternal, and one is worth fighting for the other, well it is a choice each of us must make.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice