For the last several months we have been following Moses and the Israelites through the Book of Exodus. The next book in the Torah/Pentateuch is Leviticus, the Book of Laws; however, we are going to skip over Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. The title for the studies in Exodus was “Mercy” because had it not been for God’s mercy, the Israelites would not have left Egypt or else they would have all died on the way to the Promised Land. All of us are prone to the same problems that plagued the Israelites. All of us need God’s mercy!
Now we are moving into the Book of Judges, and the title for this series is “Obedience or Chaos.” Moses dies at the end of the Book of Deuteronomy, leaving Joshua as his appointed successor. But when Joshua dies at the end of the Book of Joshua, God does not appoint any successor. Now the Israelites are in the Promised Land with no established leader; will they follow God or go off on their own? The pattern of disobedience/half obedience/foot dragging/and whining continues. But why spoil the story? Let’s get started.
Judges 1:1 – 7 “After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?” The LORD answered, “Judah shall go up. Indeed, I have delivered the land into their hands.”
Then the men of Judah said to their brothers the Simeonites, “Come up with us to our allotted territory, and let us fight against the Canaanites. And we likewise will go with you to your territory.” So the Simeonites went with them. When Judah attacked, the LORD delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek. And there they found Adoni-bezek and fought against him, striking down the Canaanites and Perizzites. As Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, seized him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes. Then Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have gathered the scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.”
Getting the Israelites out of Egypt took a leader with enormous capabilities. Without Moses, the Israelites would have remained slaves forever. When Moses died, the Israelites still needed a strong leader to spearhead their move into the promised land. But now it was time for the Israelites to depend on God alone instead of their leaders.
At the beginning, the Israelites do the right thing: they ask God for direction, and He answers them, advising that the tribe of Judah should go up first and that God has already set things up so that Judah will be victorious. The tribe of Simeon also comes alongside Judah and fights with them. When the Israelites follow God’s directions, God gives them victory.
The king whom the Israelites defeated was named Adoni – Bezek, which means Lord of Lightning. One of the main gods of the Canaanites was Baal, who was generally portrayed as standing with a lightning bolt in his hand. When God struck the Egyptians with the various plagues, He effectively made a mockery of the most important Egyptian gods. Now by helping the Israelites defeat this “Lord of Lightning,” God was graphically demonstrating that the gods of the Canaanites were equally helpless before Elohim, the One True Living God.
Why cut off thumbs and big toes? Such mutilation would render a warrior useless. Without thumbs, the warrior could not draw a bow, wield a sword, or handle javelins or spears. Without big toes, a warrior could only limp and not run.
APPLICATION: What do you do when your leaders have died and there’s nobody to take their places? Why didn’t God move Joshua to anoint a new set of leaders? Strong leaders may be helpful, but it’s all too easy for people to venerate the leader instead of the God he/she is serving.
In our area, we have lost several key leaders in the last few years. Unfortunately, younger people who could serve as leaders do not appear to be stepping forward. Throughout the world right now, many countries are suffering from crises brought on by the lack of wise leadership. But balancing being a leader with subjecting yourself to God can be a tough proposition.
One of the continuing temptations leaders face is the temptation to take first place in the hearts and minds of their people. The rise of satellite TV and live streaming on the internet has allowed preachers who would otherwise be locally famous to assume positions of international influence. Numbers 12:3 tells us that “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” Unfortunately, that isn’t necessarily true for many preachers and other leaders.
Here in Ghana it is common for churches to have big sign boards prominently displaying photos of the pastor or even of the pastor and his wife. But if all power belongs to God, why encourage people to worship the messenger rather than the One who has sent the message?
Before Joshua died, in Joshua 24:14 – 15, he threw out a challenge to the Israelites, asking them which gods they were going to serve. “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
Joshua’s challenge remains for each one of us. What do we do when the charismatic leaders are no long there? Will we serve God whole – heartedly, or will we look for another man or woman to inspire us and to take the place of God in our hearts?
PRAYER: Father God, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives! Help us to love You with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strengths. Thank You that You always empower us to do Your Will if we will only ask. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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