Screw Up, Fess Up, Grow Up, Speak Up

Since I’ve been a Christian for such a long time, I have pretty much read through most of the bible. That being the case, I was pleasantly surprised to find that while going through the book of Judges, I came across stories I had never read before. I’ve got to tell you, it’s so much fun to read a part of God’s word for the first time. It almost makes me wish there was more of the bible I haven’t read so could have more new stuff to read!

The story in Judges I particularly liked was about how the Israelites were at one point tricked into making a covenant with a neighboring people (something God strictly told them not to do) because they didn’t inquire after the Lord first. When they are called in to defend that people against an insanely large army, as the covenant required, God gave them one of the most amazing victories ever written about. What made the victory so amazing was not the fact that God gave the Israelites super strength or wisdom, but that God himself was so present. He killed off most of the enemy personally with hail, and even went so far as to listen to the request to hold the sun in place for a full day so that the enemy could be fully destroyed.

I get many things from this story. The first is that the Israelites stuck to their commitment – even though they were tricked into it. Yes, it wasn’t fair, but they made a promise to their God; and they kept it. It says in Psalm 15, “LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? He who keeps his oath even when it hurts”

The second thing I got out of it was this: Even though the Israelites screwed up, they still fought the battle wholeheartedly. They didn’t just send in a few select fighters, they brought in their full army, endured an all night march, and then immediately fought and pursued their enemies for probably over 40 hours (remember the additional sunlight.) The Israelites didn’t rest until their enemy was utterly and completely vanquished. When was the last time I fought that long or hard for the complete destruction of some sin in my own life? Is such a thing even possible?

This leads me to point three: The Israelites relied on God. At first, it might seem strange for the Israelites to be asking for God to help them out of a situation they only got into in the first place because they disobeyed. One can only imagine how much humility it must have taken to admit before God they screwed up, and then on top of that to ask Him for help out. Similarly, for me, all my battles start with admitting to God that I cannot be victorious all by myself. I need Him to get me through them.

Rolling on to point four, God responded. Why? Because God is in the business of getting us out of our own mistakes. It is a most amazing and cherished part of what makes up the character of God – to be the one and only mediator of all mankind. If you don’t get this, then you really don’t understand God at all. But you say, “I thought that if you knew Love you knew God, for ‘Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.’ 1 John 4:8” True, but what is the definition of love? “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. See? God’s love is made manifest in his mediation.

Wrapping up with point five, One of God’s biggest recorded miracles and signs of his listening to His people only came because the Israelites initially messed up. I’ll be darned if this doesn’t give me hope. I can now say to myself, “OK, I screwed up, but if I repent, get back up, and keep on fighting (that is, take responsibility for what I’ve done and start trusting and obeying God) I will now have the opportunity to see God work in even more powerful ways and I will experience His presence like I’ve never experienced it before.” Now that is encouraging. Oh Lord, you know I will continue to disappoint and disobey, but let me never give up the fight that I may see and experience your glory!