Life Lessons From Judges

Does dysfunction teach us anything? Can we truly learn from someone else’s mistakes? I hope so because it is far less painful than learning from our own failures!

Photo by: Luke Palmer

Judges is a study in failure, with a few successes sprinkled in. Because there are many failures, we also see many lessons. Here are a few.

Lesson One – Learn from your failures

It is frustrating to see the people repeat the same failures time after time. We see a pattern repeat itself many times in this book. There is a season of disobedience, the withdrawal of God’s blessing and protection, desperate repentance and then God’s saving intervention. Then, it repeats!

In our own lives, we must learn from our own failures and refuse to repeat these failures. Have we really learned if we continue to repeat the same mistakes over and over? When we fail, we must look at that failure, seek to understand why it happened and then take steps to ensure it never happens again.

Of course, if we are following Jesus, our main task is to uncover what he wants us to do next.

Lesson Two – The Importance of Completing the Mission

God gave the Israelites the task of conquering the land, eliminating all temptations to idolatry. In Judges 1:27-36, the details are given of the many failures that allowed opposing people to live in their land. These people caused continual problems for the people of Israel.

We must complete whatever task God gives us. A job uncompleted is a failure to obey. The work God gives us to do serves two purposes. It serves the kingdom of God and exalts God as worthy of worship and honor and glory. It also helps us to live the life he has given us to live and to grow spiritually, increasing our faith and our effectiveness.

When we don’t complete the mission we have been given, we are frustrated, limited in what we can do next and left pondering the question: “Will I ever reach my potential?”

Lesson Three – With God, there is no enemy that is unconquerable

In the stories of Deborah and Barak, and Gideon the people are faced by a fierce and powerful enemy. They are oppressed and ill equipped to defend themselves. Yet in these instances, when God’s people followed his direction, they were victorious with overwhelming power.

When we focus on the enemy we lose sight of the possibilities. There is no enemy that can defeat you, when you align yourself with God’s purposes and leadership. He makes even the most formidable circumstance possible to overcome!

Lesson Four – God can redeem the worst circumstance and decisions

Samson’s story is interesting and tragic. He had a great weakness for women and seemed unable to keep himself from the trouble that came to his life because of it. Despite repeated failures, God worked through his life to deliver Israel from the oppression from the Philistines.

God can work through our failures. While it is never advisable to assume God will work whether or not we are obedient, we know that he will from time to time do this. This power of God is not ours to manipulate or presume upon. It is always best to be simply obedient.

Lesson Five – Don’t do what is right in your own eyes

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:22 (ESV)

The people were consistent in this – that is why failure was so persistent in this part of their history.

Don’t try to do what is right in your own eyes. Do what is right in God’s eyes. When we insist on doing things our way, we will fail to do things the right way!

Your Turn

Are there lessons in Judges that have been helpful to you? Share them in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Now available is the complete: Transformational Life Lessons from the Bible in Kindle format. Click here for more information.