Judges Chapter 12 – The Spirit of Disunity Can Kill

In this chapter, the theme of verses 12:1-6 is: The spirit of disunity can kill. The theme of verses 12:7-15 is: All that we do is recorded.

Let's look at the first theme. This passage speaks of the tragedy of the Ephraimites, one of the twelve tribes of Israel! After you have read Chapter 12, come back and read what I have written. When Jephthah won the battle and became a judge in Israel, the Ephraimites began to feel dissatisfied. Because Jephthah did not inform the Ephraimites when he went to war. He did not allow the Ephraimites to participate in this battle. It sounds like the Ephraimites were quite good, very willing to help other tribes. Actually, this was not the first time. The last time, during Gideon's time, the Ephraimites had a similar episode, but Gideon handled that crisis very well. Why did it happen again this time? When the Gileadites faced a crisis, didn't they seek help everywhere? I believe that in that moment of crisis, since the Gileadites could seek out Jephthah, I believe they also went to the twelve tribes of Israel for help! Where were the Ephraimites then? Why were they silent? When Jephthah was victorious, having returned victoriously at the risk of his life, the Ephraimites began to emerge and say this and that? When there was danger, they kept silent; when the danger had passed, they began to complain that they were not consulted! It was truly unreasonable. Even if they were not consulted, could they not say something edifying? Did the Ephraimites not know that Jephthah had lost his daughter? Why did they not comfort Jephthah, but only find fault there?

Do you all see the spiritual problem behind this event? Do you see the spiritual state of the Ephraimites? What spirit is that? Don't read on yet, see for yourself what spirit this is. You might say it is an evil spirit. It is a spirit of death, a spirit of contention. I believe it is a spirit of disunity! Do not think that saying a few idle words, picking at other people's faults, and creating some trouble of disunity is not a problem. Although no one was killed, no fires were set, the spirit of disunity caused 42,000 Ephraimites to die! This chapter mentions the typical operating mode of the spirit of disunity. First, it is finding fault, then it is gossiping, and then 42,000 people die!

Once, when I was praying, I saw the spirit of disunity. It was a very fierce spirit. It turns out that the spirit of disunity can kill. Did you hear that? The spirit of disunity makes the church disunited, and it is nothing other than to cause your death! Whoever creates disunity is attacked by the spirit of disunity. Whoever will die at the hands of the spirit of disunity!

Let's look at the second theme. The events recorded in verses 12:7-15 cannot help but make us ask a question: Why does the Bible record this? It seems to say nothing. For some judges, the Bible writes only one sentence. For some judges, the Bible records many glorious victories. And for some judges, the Bible records many of their corrupt deeds! Why does God write the Bible this way? In fact, all that we do is recorded! The Bible simply shows us a small microcosm of this truth! Brothers and sisters, when one day we come before the Lord Jesus, you will be surprised that there is a book there, recording the affairs of all people! What is done on earth is recorded there. You will find that for some people, it is recorded like "Jug 12:11 After Ibzan, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel ten years. Jug 12:12 Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun." Nothing was done! There is no glory to speak of! How can such people give an account to the Lord Jesus! And some people, it is recorded like "Jug 12:8 After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. Jug 12:9 He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought thirty young women from outside his clan. Ibzan judged Israel seven years. Jug 12:10 Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem." How corrupt! I don't know if they will be in heaven. Even if they are in heaven, they are the most shameless, the most embarrassing people! It is embarrassing just to mention them! What kind of things did they do? What is the point of marrying thirty foreign women? It's really strange!

Brothers and sisters, we will all have to give an account to God in the future! What you do is recorded in heaven!

It's like when we want to find a job, we write a resume. Your resume is written by yourself. You must have bright things on your resume in order to find a good job. Similarly, God looks at us in this way. We must have bright achievements before God!

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