Originally posted: 10/23/19
When ten thousand choice men from all Israel came against Gibeah, the battle became fierce; but Benjamin did not know that disaster was close to them, (20:34).
It’s not a subject we like to dwell on, the Disaster awaiting; but wickedness must, and will be, judged.
Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has taken place among you? 13 Now then, deliver up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove this wickedness from Israel.” But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel, (20:12-13).
The day is coming when evil will see its end, when evil will meet His Day of Disaster.
Consider His Day of Disaster
- His Day of Disaster is in His appointed time.
- Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and felled to the ground on that day 22,000 men of Israel… Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah the second day and felled to the ground again 18,000 men of the sons of Israel; all these drew the sword, (20:21, 25).
- And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”… 35 And the Lord struck Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day, (20:28, 35).
- His Day of Disaster is close whether recognized or not.
- When ten thousand choice men from all Israel came against Gibeah, the battle became fierce; but Benjamin did not know that disaster was close to them, (20:34).
- His Day of Disaster is terrifying.
- …and the men of Benjamin were terrified; for they saw that disaster was close to them, (20:41).
How do we respond to His Day of Disaster?
He has told us there is a Day of Disaster coming, His Day, the Day of the LORD.
Behold, the day of the Lord is coming,
Cruel, with fury and burning anger,
To make the land a desolation;
And He will exterminate its sinners from it, (Isaiah 13:9-11).
For that day belongs to the Lord God of hosts,
A day of vengeance, so as to avenge Himself on His foes; (Jeremiah 46:10).
Near is the great day of the Lord,
Near and coming very quickly; (Zephaniah 1:14).
Are we prepared to meet Him on that Day? All wickedness and sin must, and will be, judged. There is no way to escape His judgment, His Day of Disaster, apart from faith in Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Savior.
- When we place our faith in Jesus and receive His truth, we escape His Day of Disaster.
- “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day,” (John 12:48).
- When we place our faith in Jesus, the Son of Man, as our Savior and Lord, rather than facing His Day of Disaster we will be gathered to Him for all eternity.
- “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other,” (Matthew 24:30-31).
- When we place our faith in Jesus, we are forgiven; there will be no judgment, no condemnation, no Day of Disaster.
- Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (Romans 8:1).
When we place our faith in Jesus, we will not face His Day of Disaster; but we still face battles in this life.
At times it can appear we are losing, we are taking the greater hit, as evil and wickedness seem to prosper and abound. It is then we must cling to Him in faith.
Let us learn the valuable lessons from Judges 20. We must encourage and array ourselves for battle in humility and repentance as we weep before Him for our sins and seek His guidance and provision for every spiritual battle.
But the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again in the place where they had arrayed themselves the first day. 23 The sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall we again draw near for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against him,” (20:22-23).
And whether or not we understand His ways or timing, let us pray we will grow in our faith and humility as we continue to seek Him, obey His commands and trust His promises.
Then all the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel and wept; thus they remained there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening. And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 27 The sons of Israel inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,28 and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, Aaron’s son, stood before it to minister in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?” And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand,” (20:26-28).
When we belong to God through faith in Jesus we are safe for all eternity; but what about others? Perhaps our own family members, co-workers and neighbors are facing His Day of Disaster, unaware it is close.
Let us ask the Lord to embolden us to share the Good News of the Gospel, the story of our Risen Savior Who has rescued us, that our family members, co-workers and neighbors will also be delivered and spared from His Day of Disaster.
for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:13-14).