Why Lord? Israel seeks to punish Benjamin for horrid abuse and death of a Levite's concubine (Yet another Not-Ready-For-The-Fannel-Board Story). So their war is just, right? They even consult the Lord. He speaks. So their mission is blessed, right? And then they are routed by a much smaller force? What's up with that, Lord?
Why Lord? Is it when and what and how they asked Him? They didn't consult Him on the decision to punish Benjamin. They asked who should go first into battle. After their defeat, they think twice, and ask if they should even go up against Benjamin. God says, "Go up against them." Ok, but they lose again. Then they go all out. Their hearts have been touched. And, perhaps, that is the answer. God isn't just a Weegee Board or a Magic Eight Ball. He wants more than our questions. He wants our hearts and minds and souls. Do we look to God to rubber stamp our decisions or do we look to Him for guidance?
The whole nation, all Israel, go to the Lord, weeping and fasting and sacrificing and then they ask. And the Lord not only says "Go," He says they will be victorious. And they are.
This is followed by even more mystery and strangenous. After Israel defeats Benjamin and wipes them out except for a reminent, Israel regretes they made an oath that their daughters will never marry a Benjamite. The Benjamites are doomed to disappear (or, at the very least, will be forced to look outside Israel for brides or mailorder or something.) So how to get around that vow, hmmmm. We got it. Do we learn something from our last unfortunate situation? Do we consult our good friend and protector, God? Noooooo. Let's just tell Benjamin it we'd look the other way if they forced a few virgins to be their brides in yet another Another-Not-Ready-For-the-Flannel-Board Bible Story. This reminds me of the story of Jephthah and his daughter. They let a rash vow justify something horrible. Something I view a bigger sin than breaking a vow or asking the Lord to forgive them of their vow. What would the Lord say? We don't know because they never asked. The Lord loves justice, yes. But is He a slave to it? Like we are? Or did He write the laws for man and not man for the law?
Why Lord? Why are you silent here?
Perhaps the real question is Why Man? Why are you silent and not involving God in your life as a people? The last verse of this reading seems to suggest then when it sums up the whole reading with this:
But they did have a king...God. But nobodies listening to Him. Any more than they will listen to a king on earth.
I do think that people look to God to rubber-stamp their preferred plan, or at least I find myself doing this at times. What do you do, though, when you ask God but are hearing neither a clear "yes" or "no"? What if you're in this situation and you wait for an answer, but convictions you cannot satisfy weigh on your head like a ton of lead? I guess I fear I will do something dumb for lack of knowing how to hear God. Hopefully no one will be kidnapped or become a casuality literally as happens in the reading, but I don't want to hurt anyone's spiritual standing even if they're fine physically. (I know another's spiritual standing does not depend on me, but I want only to help and never to hurt another's spirit.
ReplyDeleteSqueaker,
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was what they did as much as a matter of the heart. We read over and over again about how God knows the hearts of mankind. And just your concern about this means your heart is in the right place. So be assured that you want what is right and that's what the Lord truly wants. It wasn't until they took it to heart and fasted and sacrificed that God gave them victory. Trust your heart, little squeaker. Trust your heart.