A Time for His Purpose

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During the time of the Judges there happened to be a civil war within Israel. A civil war brought on by the injustice and the wickedness of the tribe of Benjamin. (Judges 19-20) So all of Israel went against the tribe of Benjamin. With the Israelites of one side, the Benjamites on the other, Israel sought the Lord. God said 'GO', they went with such fervor. Such passion. Such motivation. Such determination to do the Lord's work. And the first day of battle comes, they fail. All walk home with their heads hung low, disappointed, after all they were doing what God desired them to do. That first night, they encourage themselves, seek God, who says 'GO' so they muster up a little more strength, a little more passion as they get ready for the second day. Second day, they stand at their post, the sounds of war approaches, and once again they are met with defeat. Oh, the shame. Oh the sound of such bitter failure, for after all, it was God who said 'Go'. (20:26-28) " [All the people of Israel] came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening...So the children of Israel inquired of the Lord...And the Lord said, 'God up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand'." So the third day, with all the power they have and that word for God, they go and fight and win. Two times, they failed. Yet those two times of failure set up the opportunity for victory for the third time in battle. The course of time, the timing of events is not in our hands. It's in God's all-powerful, almighty hands. In our lives, we might hear the Lord giving us victory in an area of life but things may not be working the way we like. But that's okay. It's not in our hands. It never was. It will never be. God's in charge. And He has a specific time for our deliverance, for our victory. (Ecc. 3:1) "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven"

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