This is the third time that the whole of Israel would set their battle array against the tribe of Benjamin. They had been routed in two previous attempts. A prelude to this war will help us to glean some useful lessons. A Priest had travelled with his mistress to the coast of Benjamin. There some street boys seized the woman and molested her all night long until there was no more breath in her. The Priest cut her lifeless body into twelve parts, sending each tribe of Israel a part. That odious thing was the reason why they went to war, but not until Israel had demanded for the men who did this evil to be handed over for justice. It was Benjamin’s refusal that led to this war.

A just cause alone does not guarantee victory in life…Losing one or two battles is not the same as losing the war. With God on your side the final outcome will be favorable.

The foregoing reveals that they had a just cause to fight for; yet they lost the first two rounds. A just cause alone does not guarantee victory in life. The first defeat saw them return to the house of God. They asked whether they should go fight again; and the Lord gave them permission to go. But again they lost the battle. This also tells me that the fact that God gave you liberty to get into a thing does not alone guarantee automatic victory. Israel came back to the house of God. This time around they added a fast to their waiting on the Lord. They even offered sacrifices. It was at this point that God asked them to go again with the firm promise that “I will deliver them into thine hand”. They went for the third time and they were victorious. Two important lessons to go with today. We should learn to handle failure the way Israel did. Every setback saw them returning to the Lord for a word. The assurances they got was all they needed to try again. Finally, even though Israel lost two battles, they eventually won the war. Losing one or two battles is not the same as losing the war. With God on your side the final outcome will be favorable.