My wife and I read this chapter in Judges last night. My wife questioned my about what it all meant, She was somewhat upset with all the killing, even in the fact that God allowed some of his own people, many of them to die fighting against the enemy of the Nation of Israel.

As we went to bed, I considered what had happened in that chapter. I believe that what we see in that one chapter in Judges can be even seen in our mindsets ( as believers ) in our country today!

Let’s begin by looking at Moses. We can see a lot here but, look at what it says in:

( Hebrews 11:24-25 )

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; ( 25 ) Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. ( 26 ) Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

The word ( recompense ) means this: ( compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made ).

Moses ( esteemed ) the reproach he faced for Christ ( greater riches ) than all that was in Egypt. This was a fact that Istael was never able to understand! God the Father gave and gave, in most cases with nothing in return! At any time Israel faced a bad situation, they always became willing to return to Egypt. Well, weren’t they having to work for little reward in Egypt? Why not simply change who you are working for and, get greater reward?

As time moves foward, God the Father is trying to teach Israel that there’s a price to be paid for victory. As the riegns changed from Moses to Joshua, we see that. However, although Joshua understood that tremendous fact, Israel was still simply following ( a man ) It was moses now it’s Joshua. They simply did not understand that God desired for the ( chain of command ) to be in place and, that within that concept, his voice would be the voice that they followed.

Can you understand that ( to God the Father ) although Moses and Joshua has an important position, it was not those men that God desire for each other man to follow? Although Israel had a leader; each head of each house or family, being the ( the man, husband, father ) was to ( trust God ) not Moses or any leader. That man’s wife was to ( trust her husband ) ( the children ) ( trusted their mother ) all this; by being obedient to the ( Chain of Command ) which always went back to God the father. Joshua made this point in one verse of scripture!

( Joshua 24:15 )

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ( AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD ).

Did you notice that in tha phrase it says ( and my house )? What do you take that to mean? Let’s explain! Not only did Joshua seek to be obedient to the Lord but it went all the way to his youngest child! They understood the ( CHAIN OF COMMAND )!

As I go about witinessing, sharing the gospel, even working, I see this posted in many homes. The problem is that it’s ( just words ) until it’s seen and carried out from top to bottom. In most case, neither pastors, husbands, wives or children do not even consider the concept of a ( chain of command ).

As we consider this and go back to ( Judges 20 ); let’s try and draw a spiritual picture here. If you will read ( Judges 20 ) you will notice that Israel went to God three times, each time God told them he would deliver their enemy into their hand, Twice, the enemy won.

Now, let’s put this in the context of a family. Let’s say the first time only the husband trusted God, they lost. However, this got the wife’s attention and caused her to yield as well. The second time they went up, they lost. However, this time it got the attenton of the children as well. Therefore, they all yielded as well. The third time Israel prevailed.

This is just one possibility of spiritual things that can be gleaned from this one chapter. When we think we can simply hang a sign in our homes, go to Church, pay the pastor and win spiritual battles; we are very deceived! God is teaching Israel that there is a ( PRICE TO BE PAID ) to win victories in your families, villages and Nation!

We live in a nation where there is a Church on every corner, a Bible in every home. Joshua’s saying is sold in all kinds of forms across this nation! We see it in stores, in yards, in homes, in offices and even in Churches, The problem is that ( THE CHILDREN ) lead ( THE MOM ) the ( WIFE ) leads the ( HUSBAND ) the Church leads the ( PASTOR ). Jesus Christ is standing outside our homes and Churches begging to be heard and, all we have is a sign that make us feel and look good!

If you will read what is being taught in ( Judges 19-20 ) the actual event that took plase that got Israel stirred up, even against it’s own people, you might be, like my wife and I. I will probably make you sick to the stomach!

We live in a country where there is murder in the streets and, that of children, child molestation, children being raped, women being raped, often by the very politicians to lead us. There is trafficing of teenage boys and girls, even younger for profit, drugs created and sold to bring these things to pass.

Seemingly, our Churches have hung a sign in their Churches about this but, who really cares about it? Look at this:

( Jeremiah 18:15-17 )

Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense in vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up; ( 16 ) To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag their head, ( 17 ) I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day oftheir calamity.

In closing, like it or not, just like Israel, if we desire to have God win our victories, there’s a price to be paid! Men, husbands cannot stay as they are! Wives, mothers, cannot stay as they are! Children, cannot stay as they are! ( YOU AND I CANNNOT STAY AS WE ARE )!

As a statement that ( MARSHALL CLAYTON ) makes ( as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord ). must become far more than a sign we hang on a wall! ( I believe ) it must began at the House of the Lord, from the pews, beginning with the men standing for righteousness all the way to the pastor, demanding that Godly stands be taught and made!

Standing on that Church pew, it must go both ways! That man, husband, father must stand against his rebelious wife and children and, he must stand against a corrupt spiritual establishment and, be willing to pay the price thereof! That is exactly what Joshua and Jeremiah had to do and, they paid a price!

( LOOK AT US )! We are like Israel, we’d rather go back to Egypt than to pay any price that God desires us to pay. IT A PRICE EITHER WAY! Daniel said ( I will not eat the King’s meat or, drink his wine )? He prospered! Are we more wlling to sell out to the world or, stand for Jesus Christ?

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7