How does Judges 20:42 connect to Romans 6:23 about sin's consequences? Setting the Scene - The tribe of Benjamin sheltered the wicked men of Gibeah (Judges 19). - Israel demanded justice; Benjamin refused, sparking a civil war (Judges 20:12-14). - God twice allowed Israel to taste defeat, then granted victory on the third day, highlighting both His patience and His justice (Judges 20:18-28). - Judges 20:42 presents the climax of that judgment. The Verse in Focus: Judges 20:42 “ So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle overtook them; and those who came out of the cities slaughtered them in their midst.” Key observations • “They fled” – Benjamin attempted escape, acknowledging defeat. • “The battle overtook them” – judgment caught up despite their flight. • “Those who came out of the cities slaughtered them” – no refuge remained; judgment was complete. Tracing the Thread to Romans 6:23 Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Connection points • Sin brings inevitable consequence. Benjamin’s rebellion produced slaughter; Paul states sin’s fixed wage is death. • Flight cannot cancel guilt. Benjamin ran; Romans describes an inescapable payday for sin. • Only an outside intervention changes the outcome. Israel executed justice; Romans reveals God’s gracious intervention in Christ as the sole escape. Shared Truths About Sin’s End - Sin promises freedom but pays out death. - Judgment may seem delayed, yet it is certain. - The only deliverance from sin’s wage is God’s provided gift, not human effort or flight. Additional Scriptures That Echo the Lesson • Numbers 32:23 – “Be sure your sin will find you out.” • Galatians 6:7-8 – “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” • Hebrews 10:31 – “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Personal Application - Recognizing the certainty of sin’s consequence compels sincere repentance. - Confidence rests not in outrunning judgment but in receiving the gift of life through Christ, the only remedy Romans 6:23 supplies. |
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