(His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.) -Judges 14:4 Sometimes we think we have God figured out. We know how he works, when he works, and where he works. Yet Scripture reveals we truly understand only a fragment of how God really operates. As we are told, his ways are higher than our ways. Judges offers at least... Read more

“Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.” -Judges 13:1 Before the arrival of Samson and his defeat of the Philistines, the people of Israel endured forty years of suffering. Forty years. That’s four decades and more than fourteen thousand days! Sometimes before God answers, there is a period of darkness. God may appear to not even exist or to appear apathetic to... Read more

The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.” 2 Jephthah answered, “I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands. 3 When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in... Read more

Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a gang of scoundrels gathered around him and followed him. -Judges 11:1-3 What... Read more

15 But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” 16 Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer. -Judges 10:15-16 When we have sinned, our only hope is to turn to the Lord. When the Israelites did, we are told, “he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.” The same is true in your life.... Read more

Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.” -Judges 9:1-2 Corrupt leadership can be deadly. One of Gideon’s sons provides a graphic historical example. Abimelek rallied the people of this area to crown him king... Read more

22 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23 But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” -Judges 8:22-23 After Gideon led the Israelites to victory, the people asked him to lead the nation. Gideon rightly rejected the offer. Why? Gideon was not the one who brought about victory; it was the... Read more

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’” -Judges 7:2 Gideon obeyed God and brought together available men to form an army. His goal was to have as many warriors as possible to defeat their enemies. But God had something else in mind. Rather than thirty thousand soldiers, God chose three hundred men. Why? In God’s words, “You have... Read more

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” -Judges 6:14 My favorite line from Han Solo on Star Wars has always been, “Never tell me the odds.” It didn’t matter if what he was trying was impossible. All that mattered was whether he could make it at that moment. Judges 6 somewhat reminds me of this story. When God called Gideon to rescue... Read more

“But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” -Judges 5:31 Upon the nation’s victory, Deborah led the people in a new song inspired by the Lord. It’s conclusion marks the theme of the hymn: “May all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” What does this mean? The sun was consider the strongest of lights and the greatest of power in the Jewish worldview. When Deborah... Read more