The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Judges 1:1-7, “Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?’
2 And the LORD said, ‘Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.’
3 Then Judah said to Simeon his brother, ‘Come up with me into the territory allotted me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I in turn will go with you into the territory allotted you. So Simeon went with him.
4 And Judah went up, and the LORD gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands; and they defeated ten thousand men at Bezek.
5 And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek and fought against him and they defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6 But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes.
7 And Adoni-bezek said, ‘Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to gather up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.’ So they brought him to Jerusalem and he died there.”

From the time of Moses, the LORD had promised Israel that He had a land for them to possess. At the death of Moses, Joshua became Israel’s leader. Then Joshua died and the Canaanites were still in control of the land –land that the LORD had promised Israel.

We would do well to note that without a human leader, the plan the LORD had for Israel was to conquer and eliminate the Canaanites. When the Sons of Israel inquired of the LORD who should first attack the Canaanites, the LORD replied, “Judah shall go up; behold I have given the land in his hand.”

We’re not told why, but apparently Judah was fearful of defeat; so he asked his brother, Simeon, to join him in the attack against the Canaanites. It became their plan and they set aside the plan the LORD had given to Judah alone.

How like Israel we are yet today! We face a difficulty, turn to the LORD in prayer, receive the
answer clearly, then we add or subtract some aspects to the LORD’s response. Why, with all of the miracles Israel had witnessed under Moses, leaving Egypt, crossing the Red Sea, and living off of manna in the wilderness– why would they doubt the LORD now?

Yet, the same is true of us today. We substitute “a streak of luck,” for the LORD’s blessings when He has Himself set before us His blessings. And instead of thanking Him, we chalk it up to “good fortune.” Oh, how like Israel we are! May we learn to trust Him to mean what He says and to never attribute His blessings to another!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make
your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD
and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment
to your bones (Prov. 3:5-8).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom