Spiritual Failure – Why?

Is spiritual failure inevitable? Why does it happen? We learn by asking questions. Who? What? When? Where? How? Why?

Whenever I read this verse, I ask why?

And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. Judges 2:10 (ESV)

And what follows in this book is a cycle of failure and rescue but no renewal or resurgence or revival. It is a book of national and spiritual dysfunction with even victories tainted by spiritual failure, idolatry and conflict.

The perfect bookend for Judges is the final verse::

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25 (ESV)

So, why?

Failure at four points

Vision

When the people left Egypt they had a vision of a life in the land of milk and honey. Even when they had conflict, spiritual failure, grumbling, complaining – the vision was still there. When they got to the border by the Jordan river, with Joshua preparing to lead them, they had a vision of finding a place to live permanently. As they conquered the vision of peace and permanence was strong.

But when the main battles were complete and there were pockets of resistance, the vision died.

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)

The prophetic vision had energized and motivated them. But when they lost that vision, they clearly did cast off restraint – they did what they thought was best – a sure prescription for conflict!

Leadership

Moses led the people for 40 years. During this entire time, Joshua was his apprentice. When God told him he would not lead the people into the promised land, he asked God for another leader for the people.

 “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.” Numbers 27:16-17 (ESV)

At the close of Joshua, he challenges the people to serve the Lord but establishes no succession of leadership – the very thing Moses did in designating Joshua’s leadership role.

Culture

There was no culture of worship. Despite the laws given through Moses, we see little evidence that worship at the tabernacle was given the place it deserved. There are hints later in the Old Testament that sacrifices continued at the tabernacle but we clearly see that the people did not make worship a priority. It is also obvious that the works of the Lord were not part of daily conversation among the people. In blessing the tribes of Israel, Moses mentioned the work of the tribe of Levi as teaching the people the law – there is no written evidence that this happened, either.

Family

Moses gave them clear instructions about loving God and making the word the central part of family activity. They were to teach these words to their children, to talk about them day and night. And when they failed to do that, another generation grew up that didn’t know the mighty works of the Lord.

There was clearly spiritual failure that led to all sorts of suffering and hardship.

What can we learn about spiritual failure?

We must have vision and mission

We are the body of Christ, therefore our vision and mission must reflect that reality. The church should be a multi-generational church where bonds of physical, spiritual, emotional and mental suffering are broken. Jesus ministered to all generations. His healing ministry brought wholeness to all sorts of suffering. Not only that but he promised we would do all the things he did – and more!

The mission of the church must mirror the great commission, so we should make strong and confident disciples of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we can be strong and confident because of his presence and power in our lives.

Making disciples always includes those who are discipled to also make disciples.

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

We must have leadership that follows

Moses followed God’s leadership. Jesus followed his Father’s leadership.

What kind of pastors do we need? Ones who listen closely for God’s voice and live by the voice of the good shepherd, speaking only what God gives him/her?

We must have culture of prayer

Prayer is our essential conversation with God. If we are to experience the power of God, we must be talking to him, we must be listening to him. We listen by being quiet, by being in the word. We must have quiet times of private prayer and times of corporate prayer. Our prayer must also be spontaneous as need arise.

Prayer helps us to experience and remember the mighty works of God.

Family

As the family of God, we must reflect his values and be diligent about sharing the story. Public testimonies shared in church services are important. They remind us of what God has done and is doing and create a shared story of God’s work among his people. And these testimonies must extend beyond the walls of the church.

Your Turn

What do you need to do to ensure that you and your church don’t experience spiritual failure? Take those steps today. Above all, pray for God’s leadership and guidance in your efforts.

Continue with us in our journey through the Bible.

Weekly Reading:  Judges 1-19 – break this down in daily readings that fit your schedule

Key points:

• Mission and Vision drive the work of God forward. Notice how these things ceased to exist during the time of the judges.
• There is little evidence that there was a continual effort to teach the law and participate in worship as a part of a holy lifestyle.

Questions for consideration:

1. How can we prevent the mistake that is evident in the cycle of failure and repentance presented in this book?
2. Do you see the similarities between the response of Gideon and that of Moses when they were called by God? What does God’s choice tell us about what he can do with those who see themselves as inadequate or unprepared?
3. Samson seemed to be blind to effects that persistent pleading had on his life. We see this in his marriage to the Philistine woman in Judges 14 and with Delilah in Judges 16. What can we do to prevent similar vulnerabilities in our lives?
4. What are some of the lessons to be learned in the account of Micah and the tribe of Dan?