Feb
3
Written by:
Route 365
2/3/2010 5:00 AM
by Jason Knapp
Biography
Hi, my name is Jason Knapp. My wife, Amanda, and I have been attending Browncroft since 2000, and I’ve been involved with leading Community Groups since we came here. We have two children, Emma (8) and Owen (2).
Reflection
Why is it that sometimes when we are doing what God has called us to, we fail? We pray for His wisdom, we listen for His voice, we respond to His call…and we don’t succeed. The people of Israel faced this issue. In response to the actions we read about yesterday, they pledged to punish the people of Gebeah. The Israelites came before the Ark to inquire of God, and they received an answer. So they went to work to put their pledge into action and failed miserably. Their men were cut down, and they must have wondered, “Where is God?”
Have you experienced the same frustration in your own life? I certainly have. Leading community groups is something to which I’m certain God has called me. But a few times while I was leading a group, things got off track. Some groups ended, and it didn’t feel like things were all wrapped up in a bow. Why was I failing? Wasn’t I doing what I was called to do? I think failure, and the lessons learned in experiencing it, can be part of God’s plan. Yes, I was doing what God planned for me, but was I relying on myself too much, or slacking off, expecting God to do it all with no effort on my part? Did I have unrealistic expectations that couldn’t be met? When things were going well, was I giving myself too much credit? As I look at today’s text, I get the feeling that the Israelites weren’t seizing the opportunity for success that God had provided for them. I’m reminded of the joke about the man who is in the midst of a flood. A neighbor comes by as the waters are rising and offers to drive him to safety in an SUV, but the man declines, saying God will rescue him. As the waters rise a few more feet, another neighbor arrives in a boat and offers to get him to safety, but he again declines, saying God will rescue him. As he climbs his roof to keep away from the water, a rescue helicopter comes, and once again he declines help, saying he’ll instead trust in God. A short time later when he arrives in heaven, he asks God why He didn’t come and rescue him. God points out that, in fact, He sent an SUV, a boat, and a helicopter. Once the Israelites formed a plan to exploit the reckless attitude of the Benjamites, the victory God had promised was secured.
Are you doing what God has called you to do, and it’s not working out the way you expected? Is there a lesson He’s got for you? Is God working in your life, but you’re not doing your part? I think I need some self-examination to see.
A fellow traveler,
Tags:
2 comment(s) so far...
Re: Judges 20 : Lessons of Failure
Jason, Nice job on a tough passage! I have enjoyed your writing.
By Duane Cook on
2/3/2010 8:40 AM
|
Re: Judges 20 : Lessons of Failure
I think it's important to remember that there are times God calls us to do something, and there are times God calls us to succeed at something.
Looking at verses 18 and 23, we see God affirming the tribes' want to go to battle. However, it's not until verse 28 that God specifically mentions their victory. Why would God do that? Thousands upon thousands fell, for what?
I think God was working on their hearts, that they would be fighting with the right mindset (reliance on God). Sure, they outnumbered the tribe of Benjamin, but if Israel's history says anything it's that numbers alone do not win a battle. How much stress in the OT is put on remembering how God saved Israel countless times?
Judges is a rough chapter to read though, as it shows how God's people constantly fall in and out of a closeness with Him. How ironic that this still happens in our lives. For me, this chapter is a great reminder that failures can and will happen, but it's never the end of story. God has always brought me out of defeat, no matter the circumstance.
By Chris Neitz on
2/3/2010 10:52 AM
|