The tribe of Benjamin rebelled against the remaining eleven tribes of Israel, and they insinuated civil war. The eleven tribes who remained united asked God for a strategy to use against their rebel brothers, and he gave them some specific instructions. Meanwhile, the united Israelites loss the battle because they failed to closely follow their God-given strategy; however, they were not discouraged, and they did not stop asking God for directions. At their third attempt, after duly following God’s order, the united Israelites conquered Benjamin’s tribe. They ouster their leaders, and they brought the whole tribe to its knees. The scripture reported how Israelites eventually conquered the revolting Benjamin Tribe. It is reported,
“But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and there was the whole city going up in smoke to heaven. And when the men of Israel turned back, the men of Benjamin panicked, for they saw that disaster had come upon them. Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them, and whoever came out of the cities they destroyed in their midst. They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and easily trampled them down as far as the front of Gibeah toward the east. And eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor. Then they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon; and they cut down five thousand of them on the highways. Then they pursued them relentlessly up to Gidom, and killed two thousand of them. So all who fell of Benjamin that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all these were men of valor” (Judges 20:40-46).
Lesson:
God still leads people today; he leads his children to take appropriate steps that will benefit their lives. However, things may sometimes work contrary when we do not follow God’s instructions to the letter. Notwithstanding, we should not be discouraged when we do not get expected results; rather, we should summon the courage to understand God’s instructions well, and adherently follow them. We must not hesitate to consult God over and over again until we have our expected solutions. Our heavenly Father will definitely respond to our cries. He will answer our prayers, and he will guide us unto victories.
Prayer:
Dear God, please teach me how to duly follow your instructions so that I can have my expected victories over life situations. When you lead, let me follow; and when I follow, let me prosper. Let me have victory today, tomorrow, and throughout the days of my life. For in the name of Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen.
