When it Feels like You’re Losing

Judges 20:18-48 describes an intense civil war between one rebellious brother tribe, the tribe of Benjamin, versus the rest of the tribes of Israel. For context, the tribes of Israel *except for Benjamin* had made a resolve to punish the guilty as consequence for the vile sexual assault (Judges 19) that occurred in Benjamite territory; but the Benjamites refused to cooperate. 

Judges 20:13-14 AMP

“Now therefore, turn over the men [involved], the worthless and wicked men in Gibeah, so that we may put them to death and remove this wickedness from Israel.” But the Benjamites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel. Then the [tribe of the] sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the [other] sons of Israel.”

From this point on, the battle commenced. Despite being outnumbered, the smaller tribe of Benjamin struck down his brother tribe TWICE in battle. The first time, the Israelites did as the Lord had instructed them; making the tribe of Judah go up first. 

The result? Israel was struck down.

Judges 20:18-21 AMP

“The men of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and asked of God and said, “Which of us shall take the lead to battle against the sons [tribe] of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Judah [shall go up] first.” Then the [fighting men of the] sons of Israel arose in the morning and camped against Gibeah. The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and assembled in battle formation against them at Gibeah. The sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and struck to the ground on that day twenty-two thousand [fighting] men of Israel.”

The second time in battle, they strengthened themselves and inquired of the Lord again as to whether they were supposed to go up against the Benjamites; to which the Lord responded “Go up against them”. So the sons of Israel went up against them again. The result? Israel got struck down AGAIN.

Judges 20:22-23 AMP

“But the people, the [fighting] men of Israel, took courage and strengthened themselves and again set their battle line in the same place where they formed it the first day. The sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and asked of the Lord, “Shall we advance again to battle against the sons of our brother Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against them.””

So what do they do this time? They go and inquire of the Lord again.

Judges 20:26-28 AMP - Emphasis added

“Then all the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel and wept; and they sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there [at Bethel] in those days, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I quit?” And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will hand them over to you.””

I love how Phineas asks the Lord if he should quit, haha! It’s only natural to feel defeated after losing two times in a row. However, the Lord tells them to go up once more for He has given the Benjamites into their hands. In obedience they did so.

Judges 20:30-32 AMP

“The [fighting men of the] sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and placed themselves in battle formation against Gibeah as at other times. The Benjamites went out against their army and were lured away from the city, and they began to strike and kill some of the people as at other times, on the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel. And the Benjamites said, “They are defeated before us, as at the first.” But the sons of Israel said, “Let us flee and lure them away from the city to the highways.””

Even in the third time in battle, despite the Lord saying that He would give the Benjamites over into the hands of Israel, there were still moments when it seemed like they were losing AGAIN. But note that the Lord is a Man of His Word. If He said that He would deliver Benjamin into the hands of the Israelites, then Benjamin would be delivered into the hand of the Israelites. 

Judges 20:34-35 AMP -  Emphasis added

“When the ten thousand choice [fighting] men from all Israel came against Gibeah, the battle was hard and fierce; but the Benjamites did not realize that disaster was about to strike them. And the Lord struck down [the tribe of] Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed twenty-five thousand one hundred men of Benjamin that day, all of whom were swordsmen.” 

At first it seemed like the children of Israel were going to be defeated. They lost the first battle, they lost the second battle, and their enemies had even become overly confident because they had already won twice against the children of Israel; but GOD! Scripture tells us that the Lord literally came in and struck down the tribe of Benjamin before Israel. Let this be an encouraging word to anyone who feels like they keep losing or have yet to come out “on top”. Stay obedient, keep trusting in the Lord and know that He is fighting on your behalf. You WILL see a victory.

Be encouraged and go in peace.