<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our family loves studying the word of God together, but this month was a bit intense. It made for some odd morning devotions. I am not sure if the nightly news was more heinous or the book of Judges. Violence, treachery, cruelty, and horrendous acts of murder were daily reminders that we need more than a leader, we need a Savior. The beauty of going through the Bible systematically is that you cannot erase the bad parts or pick and choose what you want to read\u2014or obey. It works itself into your body, soul, and mind when it becomes central to your life. After doing this for many years, I was surprised how many new things jumped out in the text. It is possible that we are in new territory in this generation so things make sense now that we could not appreciate in the past. My big takeaway was this:<\/p>\n

Instead of looking at the violence, crime, and bloodshed in the text, I looked for God<\/strong>. The gruesome stories when I had read this in the past seemed to overshadow Him. They even caused me to wonder where He was in the midst of them. Then I looked in my own life and saw how trials were eclipsing what He was doing in our lives. Sometimes we want to have great faith, but challenges dim our hope. Many are speaking about the \u201cend of the age.\u201d The prevailing thought is that things are going to continually get worse. Conspiracies, prophecies, opinions may be right to some extent but there seems to be those who are also adding to the script in this fear-mongering culture.<\/p>\n

Judges, in the very first chapter, gives us an intro for the rest of the book. Hear it afresh today: \u201cAfter the death of Joshua, the Israelites (no mediator mentioned) asked the Lord, \u201cWho<\/strong> of us is to go up first<\/em> to fight against the Canaanites?\u201d This implied a collective prayer meeting. Good start. . . .<\/p>\n

Looking back at Israel\u2019s journeys, we realize that again and again and again, God\u2019s people ignored His voice and word. Here, at the outset there is a people pausing to find God\u2019s wisdom for who is to be their leader and how they are to proceed. That is significant once we realize the answer came before the darkness. Timely? I believe so. Do we need to choose a leader, to ask God who is to go in first? Do we need collectively, as a family, church, or nation to seek God? Do we need His wisdom? Are we wise enough to pause and listen to what He has to say? It does not take a scholar to realize that if we do not do that\u2014a period of time worse than the Judges, will soon be upon us. In this present darkness, that is clear. When I recalled reading this book, this first promise was not even on the list in times past.<\/p>\n

Here is my favorite verse in the book: \u201cThe Lord answered, \u2018Judah shall go up; I have given the land into their<\/em> hands.\u2019\u201d Remember Judah? They marched and they worshipped but most of all\u2014they obeyed.<\/p>\n

We can read that and immediately see a promise. Israel was in the age of the Judges, enduring suffering for over four hundred years. Moses, in comparison, looks like a track star at this point with his forty-year journey! Come on guys, how long are we going to go around this same<\/em> mountain? Now, it stretched out into four hundred years\u2014murder, mayhem, hopelessness, cruelty, darkness, violence, rape, and just pure evil. Pure evil? In spite of the atrocities, beams of light can still be seen of God\u2019s movement.<\/p>\n

The key: the Lord answered. He heard; he heard what they asked. He was listening, He was present, and He ANSWERED! This God is unlike any other God. He is not dumb, deaf, or weary. He showed Himself to be an active listener, active responder. He HEARD their prayers. The next twenty chapters will look like<\/em> proof after proof that God had forsaken them, left them. Like a parent who gives a command and then sits back to wait and see if it will be followed, God continued to watch. If ONE person would have paused, if ONE person would have looked back, if ONE person would have remembered that at the beginning of this very dark period, God sent them and gave them direction, things might have gone very different. If someone dared to ask God what His opinion was, what HIS will was for them, they could refocus. Where were the people recounting the promise of victory? Where were memorial stones to mark this word of the Lord? Had they forgotten how to remember? God made them a promise\u2014\u201cI have given (past tense) the land into their hands.\u201d They transitioned from one leader Joshua to Judah and his crew. God gave the order, they just had to walk it out.<\/p>\n

We think we are way different than these folks but the crime rates and situations in our land say otherwise. So, how do we remember? Psalm 2:1 says, \u201che delights in the Law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night.\u201d Meditate means to study, examine, ponder, and reflect\u2014to speak and mutter. If someone had done that regarding this first prayer and response, it may have served to remind them that God had spoken\u2014that He answered them and gave them the truth they needed to stand on. We pray\u2014He answers. We do what He says, He speaks more. I think that may be the part they (and we) forget. When in doubt, go back to square one and find out what you missed. Can you repeat that please? What did you say? Seeking God should not be a one-time event but an ongoing process.<\/p>\n

If you want a double dose of this verse play Elevation\u2019s new song \u201cTrust in God.\u201d I heard it after reflecting on this chapter and it refreshed my heart greatly. The friend who introduced it has lived its words during a season of suffering and her light continues to shine. Amid darkness and trials, it is AMAZING to realize God hears us and answers. I have been soaking in the song line \u201cI sought the Lord and He heard, and He answered.\u201d Maybe the hero leaders, these Judges, held on to God\u2019s original word? Some of them were even blessed with visitations and reminders. God is faithful and hears our prayers.<\/p>\n

Instead of rehearsing all the hardships of this book this time around, I wanted to know where God was and His expectations of His people before, during, and after these dark days. I spent some time meditating on these verses: \u201cThe men of Judah then said to the Simeonites their fellow Israelites, \u2018Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We<\/strong> in turn will go with you<\/strong>, into yours.” So, the Simeonites went with them<\/strong>. This reads like a narrative, and I am sure my Bible teachers will appreciate a recommendation to understand it as such, but I am also a parent and a minister. Let me share the practical lesson written here that you may not get from just reading it as history. This battle plan\u2014seek God, listen, for His response is wonderful but when you add\u2014gather the troops and let us do this together\u2014<\/em>it puts meat on those bones. You succeed when you join with others.  Not with great ideas but with Jesus and His kingdom plan. This means first God and then sold-out folks who have your back and are willing to go into the fray with you. More than just a journal entry, this is their formula for winning. Come with us and we will fight for you also. Teamwork makes the dream work may have started long before John Maxwell! Go team Judah! Helen Keller said, \u201cAlone we can do so little; together we can do so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although this next verse is not considered a main point, at least not in most commentaries, I do believe it was placed in this chapter to show us a different version of \u201ctaking the land\u201d and God\u2019s reward system. And Caleb said, \u201cI will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.\u201d^{13 <\/sup><\/strong>Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb\u2019s younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.14 <\/sup><\/strong>One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him<\/em> to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, \u201cWhat can I do for you<\/em>?\u201d15 <\/sup><\/strong>She replied, \u201cDo me<\/em> a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.\u201d What a businessperson and leader. She was not timid in her request. Come on somebody! Faith wells up into bold actions. So, Caleb gave her<\/em> the upper and lower springs. In that day and age this was amazing! Consider the livestock that needed water as well as the military crew. What a beautiful inheritance\u2014The father choosing to bless the daughter\u2014directly. She asked for what she needed, and she received it. This is the backdrop for all the other Judges. What is possible, when we go to the Father and ASK!<\/p>\n}

This is Joshua\u2019s buddy Caleb\u2014the one who spied out the land. A spy certainly knows who is most likely to win his contest, right? I bet Aksah had amazing stories of grapes and wars and winning. They stand as a shining example, amid much despair and heartbreak. It is at the forefront, in the beginning of this desperately ugly and bloody book. What a contrast. It was her father\u2019s good pleasure to give her of his kingdom. She asked, He answered and gave the land. We miss a lot if we doubt God\u2019s character or stare at the enemy wreaking havoc instead of the goodness of the Father.<\/p>\n

What are you staring at in your world today? Is it the Delight of God? The eyes of Jesus? The movement of the precious Holy Spirit? What you look for\u2014you see. What you pray for will be answered but you first must turn from the violence and drama and go where real answers are given. See Psalm 16:11\u2014take a minute and put that on a 3×5 card or a mirror. Get it deep down in your soul and share it with others. Actively shine this week. Memorize it, sing it, text it. It comes after a very dark verse.<\/p>\n

God set the leaders (Judges) in place to help the people take the land. He set up women and<\/em> men to lead. Theological Point\u2014God does not change\u2014<\/strong>no matter what denomination you are in. They failed time after time after time because they forgot what He said and did not do exactly what He told them. Leaving out instructions is just as costly as ignoring them. That is serious\u2014then and now. It is risky. It proved tragic. The people in the book of Judges often ignored His warnings. The last verse in this tragedy says, \u201cEveryone did what was right in his own<\/em> eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

While focusing on tragedy and failure in Judges we got caught up in watching the underwater sub tragedy. It was so sad. Some called it an epic failure. They ignored every heart check, scientific warning, and protocol, just to view a past shipwreck. The Titanic<\/em> was a textbook case of stubborn hearts and self-will. Sound familiar? My Navy husband gave us a play by play as it was taking place. He commented, \u201cthe deep ocean is very unforgiving\u201d and in his eyes I realized they would not be returning home. Those in charge stated they did not \u201cneed\u201d fifty-plus-year-old white, ex-military guys and planned to do their own thing. It was short-sighted and arrogant to not connect with the Coast Guard or Navy. Innovation does not need to cancel out education. Sound advice was not only refused but mocked. It was more than ironic, it was chilling. We also may have similar stories on lesser scales. Stories of past sins, mistakes, failures. Or maybe refusing support and help? If we learn from our and other\u2019s mistakes, they can teach us, but if we keep going back to view or forcing ahead without caution\u2014it is to our detriment. Judges helps us understand each of these dynamics and their outcomes.<\/p>\n

God will never fail. He is constant, merciful, and unlimited.<\/p>\n

I also want to point out that one of the people who came alongside them was a source of joy we may not recognize at first glance, but the people of that day certainly would. \u201cThe descendants of Moses\u2019 father-in-law, the Kenite, went up from the City of Palms with the people of Judah to live among the inhabitants of the Desert of Judah in the Negev near Arad.\u201d  We may be tempted to gloss over it to get to the deeper stories of Jael, Deborah, and Sampson. If we were visited by a great leader, a hero who encouraged us, we would be strengthened to possess our promised lands as well. Gather around those on the frontlines and stand with them. Oh, the value of praying and fellowshipping saints!<\/p>\n

When I was in seminary a solid, godly mentor of mine came to visit me. She heard my heart, visited my house, and prayed with me. I learned things that weekend that still impact me in powerful ways to this day. It made my dark days brighter and helped me to shine on. Yes, I want visits like that, but I also want to mature and be that for other people, especially as the days grow darker. Find someone older and someone younger. Do not wait 403 years to obey\u2014make some calls today<\/em>.<\/p>\n

We are not all that different from the Israelites. The God that listened to them, is waiting to listen, in this dark age with horrific events unfolding\u2014to the weary, heart-heavy likes of you and me. What will He say? Who will listen and obey? His directive then and to us today is that we are to do what He has given us to do, today. Who will partner with His plan to brighten the landscape of His will, as He plays out His Kingdom plan in this<\/em> generation?<\/p>\n

When you go to prayer\u2014remember confident Aksah\u2014who boldly trusted that her good father would give her what she asked of him. She stated her request. Not to another person or through another person but directly to her father. I believe our good Father is more than willing to give us what we request. We must turn away from evil and remind ourselves that God is sovereign and goes with us to accomplish His purposes in the earth. That brings victory. He promises.<\/p>\n

Anne Graham Lotz wrote in Worship Makes a Difference:<\/em><\/p>\n

In the storm, You are our Anchor.
\nIn the face of terrorism, You are our Shield.
\nIn time of war, You are our Peace.
\nIn our weakness, You are our Strength.
\nIn our grief, You are our Comfort.
\nIn our despair, You are our Hope.
\nIn our confusion, You are our Wisdom.<\/p>\n

No matter the trial, we look for God to send us and help us possess the land. Keep meditating, worshipping, praying\u2014God is listening, and His track record is that He will answer and respond with instruction. Let us know about your journey, so we can stand with you.<\/p>\n

RenaeRoche2023<\/p>\n

*Special thanks to editor Virginia Bridges<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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