What does Judges 21:20 teach about seeking God's guidance in difficult situations? Setting the Scene “ So they commanded the Benjamites, saying, ‘Go, lie in wait in the vineyards.’ ” (Judges 21:20) • The civil war with Benjamin has ended, leaving only six hundred Benjamite men alive. • Israel’s earlier oath not to give their daughters as wives now traps them in a crisis of their own making (Judges 21:1–7). • In desperation, they devise a human plan—ambush the dance at Shiloh so the Benjamites can seize wives—rather than openly seek fresh direction from the LORD. The Instruction in Judges 21:20 • The verse records a literal command, faithfully preserved. • It is historically accurate, yet descriptive, not prescriptive. • God allows the text to show how His people sometimes lean on human ingenuity when they have boxed themselves in by rash vows. Lessons on Seeking God’s Guidance • Desperation can tempt believers to craft shortcuts instead of waiting on the LORD. • A plan may appear clever, even merciful, yet still bypass prayer and divine counsel. • Scripture includes such accounts to warn: the absence of inquiry leads to solutions that carry long-range consequences (see Judges 21:21–23). Practical Steps for Today • Pause before acting; give room for God’s voice—Psalm 27:14. • Confess any rash commitments and ask the Lord to redirect—1 John 1:9. • Seek wisdom through: – Prayer (James 1:5) – The Word (Psalm 119:105) – Godly counsel (Proverbs 11:14) • Submit final decisions back to Him—Proverbs 3:5-6. Encouragement from Other Passages • “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you.” (Psalm 32:8) • “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.” (Psalm 37:5) • “The heart of man plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) Judges 21:20 stands as a loving caution: whenever problems press and emotions surge, real help begins not with human schemes but with humble, deliberate pursuit of God’s clear guidance. |
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