Daily Devotion for Wednesday 8th April

Wednesday, 8 April 2026 
 

Judges 1:1-7
 
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the Lord, ‘Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?’ The Lord said, ‘Judah shall go up. I hereby give the land into his hand.’  Judah said to his brother Simeon, ‘Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; then I too will go with you into the territory allotted to you.’ So Simeon went with him.  Then Judah went up and the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they defeated ten thousand of them at Bezek. They came upon Adoni-bezek at Bezek, and fought against him, and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.  Adoni-bezek fled; but they pursued him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.  Adoni-bezek said, ‘Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has paid me back.’ They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
 
Reflection
 
Joshua, Moses’ successor, led the tribes of Israel into the land promised by God and has now died.  Immediately the people turn to God for guidance – a good example for us to follow whenever a decision about ‘what next’ is needed.  
 
Here Judah is presented as an individual, the ancestor of the tribe that becomes a kingdom, which after exile is identified with the territory of Judea, the homeland of the Jews.  Generally the names of Jacob and his brothers represent tribal groups.  The reference to Jerusalem (v.7) which was a Jebusite city state until David’s time (2 Sam.5) is anachronistic and an indication that the text of Judges has been heavily edited.
 
Judah and Simeon go into battle and are successful.  They capture Adoni-Bezek as he flees in defeat.  The mutilation they inflict on him sounds barbaric but the text suggests this was a commonplace form of punishment in the ancient world.  In a world without prisons it was an extremely effective way of immobilising a captive that prevented any kind of action or counter-attack by them, yet preserved their life.  So perhaps we might view it in a more humane and pragmatic light.
 
But let’s reconsider verse 1 and what the passage teaches.  When the people turned to God, they’d already decided to fight the Canaanites and simply asked who should lead the attack.  God answered the prayer that was voiced, which is not the same as affirming the proposed action.  Might a different question about how to live amongst their neighbours in the land have led to a different response from God and a totally different scenario?  One without bloodshed?  
 
I wonder how often we tell God what we intend to do and then ask God to help us fulfil our plans?  Might we be guilty of getting our praying and our planning in the wrong order in our lives?
 
Prayer
 
Eternal God, 
you invite us to participate 
in your mission of love for the world.
 
Forgive us when we behave 
as though it’s our mission, not yours;
when we embark on an agenda of our own, 
rather than seeking to discern yours.
 
Help us to devote ourselves to prayer, 
listening for your Spirit’s guidance;
and direct us along ways 
that lead to justice and peace.
 
In the name of Christ.  Amen.