Judges 20:18, 23, 27-28 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?….And the children of Israel went up before the Lord and asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?….And the children of Israel inquired of the Lord, and Phinehas, saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?
After all Israel heard about the atrocities committed in Gibeah of Benjamin, Israel asked Benjamin to turn over the sons of Belial, but they refused. And before the whole nation went to battle against one tribe, Israel inquired of the Lord three times. After the third inquiry, Israel nearly wiped out the whole tribe. T he Lord gave permission and said He would deliver them into their hands.
This significant Civil War reflected the chaos and utter depravity into which the people of God descended because of sin and unbelief. The events were not terribly unlike the sin and judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, except here the Lord used human instruments to inflict the punishment.
The response of the people was outrage, but they wisely inquired of the Lord before charging into battle. So we today as Christians spend our days in a life of prayer, always aware of God’s Presence and listening to His guidance. We respond to Grace with prayer, praise, and thanks for all things, for every decision, all the time. We are always inquiring of the Lord: “Thy will be done on earth….”