Leadership and Character Issues from the book of Judges

I currently lead our Wednesday morning Bible study - you are welcome to join us at 6am if you are in the North Fort Worth area.  We meet in the offices of Jeffrey's Automotive Repair in Watauga (where my wife works - it's her Dad's business). 

Last week, we launched a new study in the book of Judges.  Now before you yawn, this is some of those most exciting and intriguing narrative of the OT.  It has alot to say about the fickle character of God's people - and of its leaders.  The judges (or "leaders") are described in this book as rescuers, savers, deliverers - these are the people who God raises up when the nation is falling apart. 

Although the book of Judges can be labeled as negative by some, it can also be an inspiring book as we see the cycles of sin and the consistency of God's amazing grace.  When there's repentance, God's mercy is new every morning!

In chapter 1, you see several micro-stories about God's people, their leaders, and watching them take full possession of the gifts God has given them (carried over from the book of Joshua).  God's people were given every spiritual blessing (Eph 1.4) but they also had to "claim it"!  In this time in history, it meant driving out the enemies of the land promised as inheritance to God's people.  All the people of God had to do was to take full possession of this blessing of God - but we see a problem.

In one line (1.27), we hear that the enemy of God just seem "determined to live in the land."  In other words, to drive these people out would mean an intentional battle, one that would take perseverance, sacrifice and commitment.  As the tribe of Judah lead out, we see one of their downfalls.  They, too, hit this wall of resistance.  In their case, it was the enemy's "iron chariots" that cause them to stop short of driving out the enemy. 

What is your "iron chariot"?  For most of us reading this post, we are believers and may have been in the faith for a number of years.  We have access to the spiritual blessings in Christ and, in all reality, we have full knowledge of how great God's gifts are for His people.  But as we grow in Christ, as we mature, we must put away childish things - things we did when we were young in our faith.  We must continue to grow and drive out the "iron chariots" as we face them.  Alot of us simple come to a point in our faith where we rest and say "that's far enough - to push forward will require that we tackle the hard things."  Sin robs of God's full attention for our lives - abundantly living as we allow God's Spirit to bear fruit through his grace.  Whether it's bad habits, leftover emotional baggage, or disobedience or distancing ourselves from God's expectations, we have to grow and wrestle with these iron chariots.  Later on, as we see the faith of Deborah played out, we'll recognize that some leaders see the imposing chariots as fuel for rising up in faith. 


Psalm 20.7 - "some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but we will trust inthe name of the Lord our God"!

-Randy