Did I Hear You Right?

It is easy to interpret circumstances as being indicative of God’s will, but I came across a story last night that shoots that concept so full of holes that nothing is left remaining.

The last several chapters of the book of Judges are not in chronological order, and based on the fact that Phinehas was priest at that time, Judges chapter 20 must have happened soon after the death of Joshua. It was the story relayed in that chapter that caught my attention as I was skimming along. The story leading up to it is worthy of the inner city police beat log, but the real kicker is what happened when the rest of Israel decided that they’d be appalled at the appalling event that had taken place.

They asked the Lord if they should go up and attack the Benjamites, and the Lord said yes. They did, and lost twenty-two thousand men in the attempt. After that battle, they once again asked the Lord if they should attack the Benjamites—doubtless at that point they were wondering if they’d heard right! Again the Lord told them to attack. This time they lost another eighteen thousand men.

Let’s face it, folks, by that time any of us would be wondering if we’d heard God aright! They did what they thought the Lord had told them to do, and lost ten percent of their warriors in the process! If they hadn’t questioned God’s will at that point, quite frankly one would have had to wonder at their thick-headedness.

One more time they asked the Lord, and this time the Lord said, "Go, because this time I’ll give you the victory."

This year has brought some enormous challenges in my business. There was one area in which, back in May, I nearly threw up my hands in despair and quit. The Lord is not generally into quitting, though, and He egged me on to go to war (figuratively speaking). I did … and I kind of lost. A month or so later I realized what had happened, and nearly gave up again. Lord, did You really tell me to do this? Is this really what you want me to do? Once again, He gave me the oomph to "attack" the situation. And just last week I realized I’d "lost" again.

This time I had a major melt-down. Did You really tell me to do this? I’m willing to give up this entire project. It would be a loss, but I know You always give more than and better than what You take away. Just tell me. That’s all. I just want to know. Because, let’s face it, we generally find that when the Lord tells us to do something, it WORKS. When we think we’ve heard God speaking, and it isn’t working, we do well to ask again.

I haven’t experienced the victory yet, but I asked, He answered, and I will go on in peace.

Victory is right around the corner.

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