Victory may come with defeat

Judges 20: ²⁶ Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. ²⁷ And the Israelites inquired of the Lord. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, ²⁸ with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?”

The Lord responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.”

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After being passed over for a number of positions I wondered what was going on.  I prayed and it seemed like GOD was saying “keep going.” Finally the company asked me to interview for CIO of one of their recently purchased companies. “Wow, look at GOD” I said. When it was all said and done, I didn’t get the job.

I pouted and questioned GOD. “Why did you put me up to this?” I said in a tiff.  Little did I know HE had something much greater in store for me.

• When I get defeated I think I can’t move forward.
• When I lose the battle I think I can’t fight anymore.
• When I don’t get my way I think GOD has forgotten me.

The Israelites went to GOD, not once but twice and prayed to HIM asking if they should fight and the LORD said “Yes” and they lost both times. In fact they were humiliated in their defeat. They went back one more time and GOD gave them victory.

• GOD’s plan is wonderful for me but it has included painful growth.
• GOD’s plan for me is great but I have had to fail in order to accomplish HIS goal.
• GOD’s plan is absolutely marvelous for me but I have had to fall in a few holes to realize I need HIM.

Just because I am defeated on one battle or even two doesn’t mean I shouldn’t keep fighting. GOD wants me to be strong as I move forward. The weak will observe my defeat as total failure, BUT GOD sees it as an opportunity to strengthen me and grow me. HE is the one who raises me and places me in the position HE desires.

• Are you defeated?
• Are you tired of the fight?
• Can you open your eyes and ask GOD to fight for you?
• Won’t you “keep going” like GOD told you to?

What is GOD trying to protect me from?

Judges 19: ⁹ Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman’s father, said, “Now look, it’s almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home.” ¹⁰ But, unwilling to stay another night, the man left and went toward Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.

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¹⁶ That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was living in Gibeah (the inhabitants of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields.

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²⁰ “You are welcome at my house,” the old man said. “Let me supply whatever you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.” ²¹ So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.

²² While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.”

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What a difficult piece of history this is!  This chapter had only a list of bad decisions that led to worse decisions that ultimately ended up with very, very bad things happening. It made me ponder… If GOD isn’t giving me something I really, really want, should I have it?

• GOD sees my past and knows my future.
• GOD understands what is good and healthy for me and protects me even from myself.
• GOD delivers me from harm when I listen to HIM.

There have been parties I wanted to go to and my parents said “No” and I pouted. Looking back on one situation I do remember some “not so good” things happening to those who went. I pouted because the weather was bad and I couldn’t be with my friends. Many accidents happened that day and people were critically hurt.

I’m not spouting fear, doom and gloom. I just know that when I want something I should ask GOD if this thing I want is what HE wants for me. I should then allow HIM to say “No or Yes” and act accordingly. Usually if the thing I want doesn’t match following HIS word, I won’t get it.

• Are you trying to go in your own direction?
• Are you acting in fear?
• Are you spreading fear to others?
• Won’t you consult GOD instead of going down your own path?

Don’t mistake prosperity for GOD’s blessing

Judges 18: ³⁰ There the Danites set up for themselves the idol, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land.³¹ They continued to use the idol Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh.

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Dressed in my new suit, I ventured into a huge church.  This place seemed to have everything!  When I sat on one of the lavish pews I noticed several women sitting near me. I noticed this the next week and the next. Finally a couple of them introduced themselves but similar to that of being in a club.

The preacher drove a lavish car and the sermons were about how to live in prosperity. Meanwhile, I noticed the deacons sneaking peeks at the women and winking at me as if to say, “You didn’t see that.” The crowd was huge and since this was one of my first efforts to go back to church I said to myself, “This place is better than the clubs!”

• Sometimes I can be fooled by fake prosperity.
• Sometimes I can be fooled into thinking immense wealth will bring me closer to GOD.
• Sometimes I can be fooled into seeking a place where I won’t be corrected so I can do what I want and blame it on GOD.

The Danites stole an idol and attacked peaceful people out of ignorance of what GOD desired for them. They worshipped the idol and broke one of the major commandments of GOD. I can relate to this because I was ignorant to what GOD wanted for me and when I got to the church where the preaching tickled my ears, I felt great!

• GOD told me HIS word is like a two edge sword, it cuts the preacher and the receiver.
• GOD told me HIS word applies to every human so I should look at my flaws before I make statements.
• GOD told me HIS word is above any thought I could dream up so it’s best that I follow HIS ways.

Prosperity comes and goes, BUT GOD is here forever.  When HE said “I will never leave you nor forsake you” HE also meant HE would hang around and correct those who believe in HIM. The country I live in emphasizes two things way too much, money and sex.

It blinds us to our many other flaws like prejudice, hatred, slander, corruption and divisiveness to name a few. GOD made it easy, “love one another as I have loved you.” This simple command is easy to remember and breaks down any pitiful cause focused on one single sin.

• Are you in a building calling itself a church that is not following GOD?
• Do you feel GOD wanting you to grow?
• Are you studying and learning about HIM?
• Can you add “loving others” to your plan today?

Treating GOD any old way!

Judges 17: ⁵ Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household gods and installed one of his sons as his priest. ⁶ In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

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“GOD won’t mind” is what I said when I lied to my boss for slipping away and goofing off. Well, actually I didn’t think about GOD at the time but later when it popped in my head I did. “GOD won’t mind” is what I said when I did (insert sin here). I mean HE did forgive me so I can sin as much as I want right?

• Sometimes I treat GOD a bit too common.
• Sometimes I treat GOD as if HE can’t do anything to me.
• Sometimes I treat GOD like HE is a pushover and doesn’t require me to worship HIM.

My actions will always bear fruit, but many times the fruit may be rotten. GOD sees through my actions and understands that if even the tiniest bit of sin is at the root, the action will fail. Does this mean everything I do will fail?

• GOD forgave me and cleansed me of all unrighteousness but I still should follow HIS ways.
• GOD understands every temptation I face but if I look carefully HE shows me a way out.
• GOD knows my weaknesses because HE made me but HE loves when I overcome them and turn to HIM.

Sometimes I look at GOD with extreme eyes. Either HE is this mushy, weak forgiver or HE is a sadistic punisher who likes to put tests in front of me that I will constantly fail. GOD is so much different than my thoughts!

HE is all powerful, all seeing, all knowing and chooses to show HIS love, gentleness and kindness to have a relationship with me.  HE knows the right amount of discipline to grow me instead of breaking me and has my best interest in mind ALL the time!

• Do you have the wrong view of GOD?
• Are you doing anything you wish and think there is no consequence for your action?
• Won’t you turn your life back to GOD and watch HIM work in your life?
• Can you take small steps toward HIM so HE can take giant steps towards you?

Check to see if GOD is with you

Judges 16: ¹⁸ When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. ¹⁹ After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.

²⁰ Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”

He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

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Teaching Sunday school would be easy to me because I was used to training people at work.  “This should be a breeze” I thought to myself.  I prepared fervently making sure the teens were entertained.  I had my quips ready and I delivered the message.  “How was that?” I asked a student afterward.

She replied “I enjoyed the message, but I didn’t understand what you were saying.”

• There are times when I serve people without having GOD in my service.
• There are times when I think I’m doing GOD’s work when I’m really doing it for myself.
• There are times when I want the pat on the back for serving.

It takes faith to serve GOD and when I try things under my own power they fail miserably. If GOD wants me to stretch for something and HIS power is not with me, then the plan I am trying to achieve will fail miserably.

• When I plan something, GOD has to be included.
• When I try something new, GOD must be asked.
• When I have a new endeavor, GOD must be bowed to for HIS supreme answer.

I have heard in business “failure is not an option” but it is when I don’t ask GOD for permission. Even when I do ask permission I must accept that HE may answer “No.” GOD’s power is never to be taken lightly and HE supplies me with it as I humbly seek HIM.

• Are your efforts falling apart?
• Do you feel exhausted and full of failure?
• Can you take a moment to recognize where GOD fits in the plan?
• Won’t you reduce your effort and increase HIS?

It’s actually GOD

Judges 15: ¹⁴ As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. ¹⁵ Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.

¹⁶ Then Samson said,

“With a donkey’s jawbone
    I have made donkeys of them.
With a donkey’s jawbone
    I have killed a thousand men.”

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After months of development the system was finally finished. I had put an incredible amount of time planning and preparing although there were many who worked on the project. When the convention rolled around, we had lines hanging around our booth!

“My” hard work paid off. “I” got an award for it and “I” deserved it right?

• Sometimes I don’t give credit where credit is due.
• Sometimes I think it’s “me” when great things happen and it’s GOD when things break down.
• Sometimes I think I want all eyes on me rather than pointing to the one who deserves it.

Success can easily go to my head.  I have been successful many times in my career and it feels great to have people cast accolades at my feet. BUT GOD deserves some attention.

• I should practice praising GOD for little things so I can praise HIM for big things.
• I should practice praising GOD often so it becomes second nature.
• I should practice praising GOD publicly so I can point my life to HIM rather than having all eyes on me.

I don’t mean thanking GOD publicly for my foul act or sinful gain, I mean I need to thank GOD when people want to praise me instead of HIM. It really is HIM who deserves praise because without HIM I can do nothing.

• Are you looking for praise or thanks from people?
• Do you feel looked over?
• Can you stop wanting accolades and point people to GOD?
• Won’t you take time to praise HIM today?

If I don’t know then am I accountable?

Judges 14: ⁸ Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey. ⁹ He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.

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Standing in line in one of my frequent eatery joints a man approached me with the ultimate cliché… “you want to buy a watch?” This was easy for me to resist because I knew it was stolen and besides the watch was way too big for my scrawny arms.

As I proceeded outside another guy approached me. “You want to buy a DVD?” the movie was still in the theater and I really wanted to see it. “Hmmm” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I ignore what is wrong so I can have what I want.
• Sometimes I fool myself into thinking “if I don’t know something wrong happened then maybe it’s alright.”
• Sometimes I conveniently forget to tell others if I have done wrong and they don’t know why consequence has fallen on them.

Consequence of sin is usually not what I want to hear when it comes to GOD. I mean isn’t HE all love and no wrath? On the contrary, GOD is all powerful, full of love and wrath. GOD despises when I categorize my sin into large and small so I can get away with the “small.”

• GOD wants me to confess my sins so HE will be faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.
• GOD wants me to take HIS yoke upon me and learn about HIM so I can allow HIM to steer my path.
• GOD wants me to allow HIM to lead me beside still water which means I have to be on HIS path.

Allowing GOD to be in my life means GOD has the right to say “NO” or “Not now” or “yes, but with a different outcome.” I should not hide ‘what I’m doing’ from HIM so HE can guide my path.

• Are you ignoring what’s going on around you so you can get your way?
• Are you caught up in something that you feel is not right?
• Are you blind to the fact that you may be off GOD’s path?
• Can you learn of GOD and confess what you are doing so HE can put you on HIS path?