THE CONSISTENT STRATEGIC TEAM WILL SUCCEED (Judges 20:20)

“Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),

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Judges 20:20 “The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arrayed for battle against them at Gibeah.”

The men of Gibeah had committed a great sin and so must be punished according to the law of the Lord. The tribes of Israel had determined to execute judgment on them and therefore required the tribe of Benjamin to deliver the men of Gibeah into their hands. The tribe of Benjamin did not only refuse to deliver the men but also gathered together from the cities of Gibeah to war against the whole tribes of Israel. When the latter realized the former was set for a civil war, they went ahead to inquire of the Lord about the strategy to be employed and the Lord told them which tribe should take the lead. 

We would have thought that because they were obeying God in warring with the tribe of Benjamin, were following the strategy which was given to them by God Himself and also outnumbering the tribe of Benjamin, they would have overcome them just at one strike. But this was not the case. The tribes of Israel lost 22 000 men in the first fight (Judges 20:21). 

That was really a big defeat, a great loss, which should obviously have led to a total and permanent retreat. Not only because they were defeated but defeated by a very small number of men compared to them. But surprisingly, the men of Israel encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again where the have first arrayed. And after inquiring from the Lord, the second day they struck again and also lost 18 000 men who were expert in handling the sword (Judges 20:25). By this time, they had become weak and discouraged but at the same time had faith in God and therefore fasted, prayed, and cried to Him. After inquiring again and receiving an assurance from the Lord that He will at this time deliver the tribe of Benjamin into their hands, they assayed to strike the tribe of Benjamin the third time. But at this time, they had developed another strategy, that would be workable only because of their past defeats. The strategy was setting some men of the tribes of Israel in ambush at Gibeah while the remaining men will go and array themselves against Gibeah just like the previous times. The men of Israel would flee, not because they were being defeated but so they could draw out the men of Gibeah out of their cities that the men in ambush could from behind, set the cities of Gibeah on fire. And so, it happened. The men of Israel who arrayed themselves against Gibeah deliberately retreated as if they were being smitten before the men of Gibeah and consequently drew out the men of Gibeah out of their cities after them. Before the men of Gibeah knew, the whole city was going up in smoke behind them and they could neither go forward nor turn backward but were surrounded and killed while a few escaped into the wilderness, where they were still captured. This victory was possible because of the previous seemingly defeats. The success of the last strategy employed, which granted them victory, was contingent upon the previous strategy they used which resulted in defeat. This tells us that no matter how difficult and unsurmountable a problem is, if we consistently face it strategically it will soon be dealt with. The men of Israel were a consistent strategic team. They never gave up, they did not relent but kept striking until they succeeded in burning down the cites of Gibeah and putting out the men of Benjamin. It does not matter how many times we have failed and lost, those defeats and losses will add to our experience and help us when next we are dealing with the problem. The strategy we have used that seemed to have failed will later be a foundation for the next to be a success. And just like the previous defeats of the men of Israel helped them to eventually overcome the men of Gibeah, so we will overcome and succeed if we are consistent and strategic. Is it not interesting that in their first two fights in which they suffered defeat and loss, they inquired from God and got an approval at each time to go against the tribe of Benjamin? But the Lord was using what we will call a failed and fruitless strategy to set the tribes of Israel up for a victory and success. 

You might have been led by the Lord and you might have obediently carried out His command, and yet it seems you are no different from a failure, do not give up. Whatever you are passing through will be the same reason you will become successful and victorious. Continually seek God’s face, be consistent in fighting and be strategic in your approach. No matter what the machination of the enemies is, you will soon succeed. Learn from your past and use that knowledge to form a formidable strategy against the problem or enemy and you will see yourself coming out successful and victorious. Remember, the consistent strategic team will succeed.