BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 1

                                                                                              A Recipe for Failure

Judges 1:1-34

There is an old saying that describes just the opposite of many today.  It goes something like, “It is not as important as how one starts out as how they finish.”  Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” Sadly today our world is full of failures of every kind.  If one wants to be a pessimist just look at the sports world for example.  The best batters in the major leagues are considered a star if they get a hit three out ten times at the plate.  In other words the batter fails seven times out of ten to get a hit.

 

In a way my life is the same, there have been times when no matter how I have tried to do it just does seems to work out.  Plans that I make or decisions to take a different direction in my life have not always come to fruition.  Although I might consider these failures, God knows better than me what is best.  He has probably saved me from getting in over my head more times than I could even fathom. He has also opened doors for me that I did not expect.  There have been many opportunities that have come to me to do the things that I have dreamed of doing only in a different way than I expected.  I once thought I would like to be a radio announcer and worked towards doing that.  Twice I have had the chance to be on radio.  Once was in Russia where I was interviewed for a radio station in Kazan.  Unbelievable, but it happened.

 

Usually when those things I could consider failures have occurred it was not that I did not have the desire but I had left God out of my plans.  One time I was released from a position which lead to getting a position at the International Mission Board and moving into the field of purchasing which had not been open for me at my previous employer.  I have been trained both as a transitional pastor and church consultant but there has been no call for me to take either of those positions.  If I had done so it would have closed the door to being able to write the material we are using at Bethany Place.  It is a hard lesson to learn and one that will go on as long as I live to always trust what God has said in His word.  To believe and follow His guidance makes the path we take a lot less stressful and will not be full of failures.

 

All over the county there are churches closing their doors every year.  Sadly, this has become epidemic today. There are bookshelves and computers loaded with books and articles written about the dying church and what can be done to revitalize them.  This is not a new phenomenon. We have just finished studied the problems in John’s letters with which he had to deal in the early church.  If we look at the seven churches in the book of Revelation the only one that survived up until the twentieth century was the church of Philadelphia because each of them fell away from following the truth.  If any church continues to try to carry out the ministry in their way they can expect to fail and possibly close their doors.  God has dictated what is good for the church in His word and will not honor us when we deviate from it.

 

In Joshua the Israelites were given clear commandments from God of what He wanted to be done with the people in Canaan. Toward the end of the book Joshua told the people of God’s faithfulness and His expectation that they would continue to follow the words of Moses that he had received from God.  To fail in carrying out his instructions would have devastating consequences.  Our study of Judges will be warning to us if we do not heed the words given to us in the Bible. See especially chapters 23 and 24.

 

Judges 1:1-2

As the time of death approached, Moses had asked God who would continue to lead the children of Israel in their conquest of the land of Canaan.  He had been directed to anoint Joshua to take over the leadership role.  It is not clear why Joshua did not follow the example of Moses and choose a specific person to take over.  One possible reason my have been that Israel would be made up of separate territories each determining its own leaders to bring about the defeat of the inhabitants.  A hundred mile long by twenty-six mile wide battlefield would have been overwhelming for any army.  As shall be seen later much of the ground gained would have to be recaptured as the army moved from one objective to the next. The second possible reason would have been that Joshua was relinquishing his role and leaving the people in the hands of God.  This idea is seen in the request made by the Israelites after the death of Joshua. Collectively they asked God who would lead them into battle.  Following the pattern of the past Judah was named to provide that leadership.

 

1. What were the reasons that Joshua did not do like Moses and name a successor?
2. Which one do you believe is more valid?
3. Why was Judah selected? (It was identified as the family to lead Israel all the way back to the prophecy of Jacob concerning his sons.  Moses set of the order of march from the camps with the tribe of Judah at the forefront.)
4. What did this action show about the people at that moment? (They were putting their trust in God for direction.)
5. In what ways do you follow their example at that point?

 

Judges 1:3

There was no command from God that Simeon should accompany Judah into battle. Judah had been given the largest territory in Canaan. At that point Simeon was the smallest of the tribes so it was to their advantage to go with Judah.  Of course by making this pact the two tribes actually disobeyed God.

 

1. How did Judah disobey God?
2. Who needed the alliance more?
3. From Joshua where was the inheritance of Simeon? (In the midst of the land of Judah.)

 

Judge 1:4-7

God gave the army of Israel victory over the inhabitants Canaan.  Specifically named were the Canaanites and Perizzites.  There was also the city of Bezek led by a man called Adoni-bezek.  He was evidently the governor of that city.  During the battle Adoni-bezek fled.  He was captured by the Israelites. Rather than killing him for some reason they cut off his thumbs and big toes. The governor saw this act as a judgment from God because he had done the same to seventy other kings who then had to eat from the scraps of food that fell from his table.  He was then carried off to Jerusalem where he died.  No one knows the cause of his death. He may have bled to death, developed an infection or was killed in battle.  One thing is sure that the keeping him alive was a disobedient act because God had clearly stated that all in Canaan were to be killed. See Deuteronomy 7:1-2

 

1. Why did God give the armies of the Canaanites, Perizzites and Bezek into the hands of Judah? (It was God’s plan to destroy the godless nations within the inheritance given to Israel.)
2. How would you describe Adoni-bezek according to what is found in these verses?
3. Why would he acknowledge God’s hand in what happened to him? (He would have recognized the accomplishment of Israel as coming from a superior being.  Whether he fully understood God as we do is questionable because of his treatment of other men.)
4. Why did he believe what had happened to him was justified? (He lived under the concept of equal punishment for what had committed by him.)
5. By keeping him alive how did the army of Judah disobey God?
6. How do we sometimes disobey when we think we are doing right? (We forget it is God’s commands not our own decisions that make something right or wrong.)
7. What do you think of what is said in Deuteronomy in the treatment of the people in Canaan?

 

 

Judges 1:8

Originally in the dividing of the land among the tribes Jerusalem was part of Benjamin.  Later it would fall under Judah.  At the point in time Judah actually would have gone there to assist the tribe of Benjamin.  The powerful army of Judah readily defeated and burned the city.

 

1. To whom did Jerusalem belong?
2. Why would Judah have gone there?
3. Why did boundary lines not matter at that moment? (The enemy was the enemy no matter where they were located.

 

Judges 1:9-10

Judah then turned its attention to the land given to them as its inheritance.  Although not mentioned in this book the city of Hebron had been given to Caleb. See Numbers 14:24 and Joshua 14:6-15.  The promise made concerning him was fulfilled as he took over the city. It would later become a city of refuge with his family retaining the rights villages and lands surrounding Hebron. They also captured Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai

 

1. What does this narrative tell us about the faith of Caleb? (It took more than seven years before he had the opportunity to claim the land promised to him.)
2. What does it say about God? (He will fulfill His promises even though in the case of Caleb it took over forty-five years to do so.)
3. What encouragement should this narrative give us?
4. How has God fulfilled His promises to you?

 

Judges 1:11-15

The next verses are a powerful picture of faithfulness and commitment to God’s dictates and promises.  It must be remembered that Caleb and his family were not descendants of Jacob but possibly Esau.  At some point during the time in Egypt they attached themselves to the tribe of Judah.  This family is an example of a people who became part of God’s people because they were committed to living their lives according to His plan.  Caleb obviously had continued to provide leadership to the tribe of Judah at that time.  He offered the hand of his daughter in marriage to the one who was willing to do the Lord’s battles and defeat Debir (Kiriath-arba)  Othniel, his nephew won the battle and Caleb’s daughter.  Achsah then persuaded her new husband to ask Caleb to give the land of southern Israel called the Negev to them since it had springs of water.  This also showed her commitment to the new land into which they had come.

 

1. Why is this event such a powerful picture of commitment to God? (They believed the land belonged to them as God had promised?
2. What does the offer by Caleb say about Othniel? (He believed as strongly as his uncle in the mission.)
3. Why would Caleb offer his daughter in marriage? (It was a commitment to the land.)
4. What act showed that Achsah intended to be a part of the success of Israel?
5. To what are you committed?
6. How does the commitment you have made affect your decisions?
7. How willing are you to take risks for the Lord?
8. In what ways have you already done so?

 

Judges 1:16

There was another group of aliens who decided to attach themselves to Israel.  It was the family of Jethro called the Kenites.  They had gone up with Moses from the very beginning of the forty-year journey, to guide the Israelites through the unfamiliar territory.  They are only mentioned here but later will play a crucial role in the life of the nation.

 

1. Why were the Kenites willing to go with Moses? (His promise of a reward and to help him along the way?
2. What did their willingness to go cost them? (Forty plus years of hardship and travel.)

 

Judges 1:17-18

Judah now fulfilled its promise to Simeon.  It helped them capture the land within Judah that would become their inheritance.  Judah also defeated those who were in the territory which today is in the possession of the Palestinians.  It included Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron.

 

1. How did Judah fulfill its promise to Simeon?
2. Which part of the conquest is now in the hands of the enemies of Israel?
3. Why would such an event take place?

 

Judges 1:19

The first sign of disobedience and lack of trust occurred when the tribe of Judah was unable to dislodge the people living in the valley.  For the Israelites the enemy army that possessed chariots were too formidable for them.

 

1. Why was this event a sign of unfaithfulness?
2. What had God commanded?
3. Why did the tribe of Judah believe they could not defeat an army with chariots?
4. What are the weapons that the enemy possesses that make him too strong for you?
5. What is the best course of action when faced with such a challenge?
6. Why do you think the Israelites gave up so easily?

 

Judges 1:20

What a contrast between the two tribes mentioned. Caleb was given Hebron which he captured from the sons Anak.

 

1. What allowed Caleb to capture Hebron and defeat the giants?
2. What giants are you called to fight?
3. How do you deal with the obstacles in your life?

 

Judges 1:21-22-26

Here is seen a pattern that will get progressively worse as chapter one continues.  It was the beginning of the downward spiral of the nation.  Sadly, it did not take long for the nation to drift away from faith in God and became disobedient to His commands to destroy His enemies.  In between this one verse, and those which follow it, was the success the house of Joseph had in capturing Bethel.  While Joseph was able to take over the city, Benjamin could not defeat the Jebusites living in Jerusalem.  It is a part of history that the Jebusites remained in Jerusalem until the time of David over four hundred years later.

 

1. How did Joseph contrast with the tribe of Benjamin?
2. Why was Joseph able to accomplish what Benjamin did not?
3. How was this failure costly to Benjamin? (The Jebusites and their influence on the tribe would have negative consequences in the years to come.)
4. What does this say to us about mixing with a group of people who may be a bad influence?
5. How difficult is it to uproot such people out of your life?

 

Judges 1:27-34

The important point in these verses is the degree to which Israel drifted further and further from God as

they refused to carry out His commands to possess the land.  Other than Caleb and one or two successes for the most part Israel failed God. Below will be listed the tribes and the events that showed the regression of the people. What took occurred in each case is as follows:

• Manasseh did not defeat the Canaanites living in the territory but became the slaves of the Manassites when they became strong.
• Ephraim did not drive out the inhabitants.  The Canaanites continues to live among them.
• Zebulon the inhabitants living in Kitron refused to leave and became the slaves of the Zebulonites.
• Asher after failing to drive out anyone from a number of cities actually began to live among the natives.
• Naphtali took the same route as the tribe of Asher and began to live among the people they could not defeat or drive from the land.
• Dan found itself as exile in the hill country of the land they were to possess.  The inhabitants did not even permit the people of Dan to come into the valley.
• The house of Joseph finally became strong and forced the Amorites to become their slaves.

 

From what is seen in the actions of the nation of Israel it would only be matter of time before they people would take on the nature of those living among them or among which they lived.  It is inevitable that when individuals hang around the ungodly long enough, they will be influenced by them.

 

1. How does what occurred with the Israelites reflect what can take place in each of our lives?
2. What was the pattern of their behavior?
3. How does it reflect the saying, Do an act, reap a habit, do a habit, reap a character?
4. What would it have taken for a different result to have occurred for them?
5. What can we do in our lives to make sure that we do not fail as they did?
6. What had not changed? (God was still there and His promises had never gone away?
7. If that is true why do people fall away?

 

• Believe what God has promised knowing for you
• Be willing to face difficult situations with complete faith in Jesus Christ.
• Know that all will fail at sometime but those are the times to not make excuses for failing but to confess and repent of your sins because God will forgive you.
• Understand that God has placed us in this world for His purpose so be sure that you seek out what it is and keep to that path.
• Do not let those around you influence for evil.

 

The Church today finds itself in a world that is opposed to it on every side.  We can be either overwhelmed and give up on continue to carry on the mission of Christ to which we have been called. Sadly, the nation of Israel let their guard down and no longer believed that God could accomplish the task to which they had been called.  We have given a mandate to carry the gospel tirelessly into all the world.  That means we are to remain steadfast in our efforts to reach people next door and around the world.  The way to keep from wavering is to mentor, encourage and sustain fellow followers of Christ with as much energy as we can.  This is not the time to be seen as failures but overcomers.  Paul said, “ I can do all things through Him who strengths me.” Philippians 4:13.  Our continuous prayer in these days is for God to give us that spiritual stamina.