"So the sons of Israel arose in the morning and camped against Gibeah. The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arrayed for battle against them at Gibeah. Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and felled to the ground on that day 22,000 men of Israel. But the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again in the place where they had arrayed themselves the first day. The sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and inquired of the Lord, saying, 'Shall we again draw near for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?' And the Lord said, 'Go up against him.' Then the sons of Israel came against the sons of Benjamin the second day. Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah the second day and felled to the ground again 18,000 men of the sons of Israel; all these drew the sword." -Judges 20.19-25
Israel has taken heed of the Levite's message, and 400,000 men from the other tribes came out to seek justice and punish the wickedness. They go down to to Gibeah and ask that the men who have committed this shameful act be handed over and killed. Benjamin refuses and the tribe prepares for battle against the other tribes. The odds seem to be heavily against them, they only have 26,000 men, but of these there are 700 left handed slingsmen who are expert marksmen.
The first two days of battle, Benjamin takes the day, they kill 40,000 men. After the first defeat the seek God, wondering if they should try again. He tells them to and they do, only to be defeated again. After the second day they again turn to God. He tells them to go up against them again, and that this time He will give them into their hands.
The third day of battle begins, Israel looses some men, but in the end only about 1,000 warriors of Benjamin are left. God leads the side of justice to victory, but it is a costly, and hard won victory. They sought to do what was right, it was not easy, but they endured, and justice won.
Men, doing the right thing, standing up to sin and injustice, is not easy. Twice Israel was greatly defeated, but the endured and eventually God gave them victory. If we seek to do the right thing, we will not go unopposed. It will not be a short and clean fight. There will be great losses and hardships that must be endured, there is a cost to doing the right thing.
Let us be willing to pay that cost. Let us see the essential need for justice and do whatever we must to see it carried out. Let us be men who are willing to die for what is right.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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