How does Judges 20:41 demonstrate God's justice in dealing with sin? “Then the men of Israel turned back, and the men of Benjamin were terrified, for they realized that disaster had come upon them.” Setting the Scene • Gibeah’s horrific sin—rape and murder of a Levite’s concubine (Judges 19)—polluted the tribe of Benjamin. • Israel sought justice, first asking Benjamin to surrender the guilty men (Judges 20:12-13). Benjamin refused, defending evil. • After two costly setbacks, Israel finally prevailed on the third day when the LORD gave the strategy and the victory (Judges 20:26-35). The Seriousness of Sin • Sin is not a private matter; it defiles a people (Joshua 7:1, 11 – 13). • Benjamin’s refusal to repent shows corporate hardness of heart (Isaiah 5:20). • God’s holiness demands sin be answered (Habakkuk 1:13). God’s Justice Displayed in the Verse • “Disaster had come upon them” — the moment Benjamin recognized divine judgment. • Justice was not impulsive; God allowed opportunities for repentance through Israel’s calls for surrender and by permitting earlier Israeli losses that humbled the nation (Judges 20:23-26). • The terror that gripped Benjamin mirrors the fear that accompanies realized guilt (Genesis 3:8-10; Proverbs 28:1). • God used Israel as His instrument of righteous judgment (Romans 13:4; Psalm 94:1-2). • The verse underscores the certainty of divine retribution: when God’s longsuffering is spurned, judgment arrives suddenly and decisively (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; Hebrews 10:26-31). Lessons for Believers Today • Unrepented sin invites unavoidable consequences—personal, familial, and communal. • God’s patience is real, but it has a limit; delayed judgment should never be mistaken for approval (2 Peter 3:9-10). • Justice ultimately belongs to the LORD, who balances mercy and righteousness perfectly (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). • Genuine repentance—turning from sin and aligning with God’s standards—averts judgment and restores fellowship (1 John 1:9; Isaiah 55:6-7). |
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