Judges 5:31c “And the land was undisturbed for forty years.”

NO WAR

This probably seems like a strange verse to use today.  It is the last part of the last verse in Judges 5 which is the “Song of Deborah” after they had defeated the army of Jabin, king of Hazor in Canaan.  You really should read Judges 4-5 to get the full picture.  But the story ends with this short phrase, “And the land was undisturbed for forty years.”

I was thinking about my country, America.  We have been at war with terrorism since 2001 – 16 years.  How sweet would it be if we could have forty years of peace?  Doesn’t that sound great?  No young men or women would be sent into harm’s way.  No deaths due to battle.  Billions of dollars could be used for other purposes.

Don’t hear me wrong.  I am not against the war on terror.  We have to defend ourselves, and we have to fight against evil.  I guess I am just a little jealous of the forty years of peace Israel experienced here.

TEACHING MOMENT

This might be a little challenging to teach to your kids.  But hey, how about this?  The next time your children get into one of those knock down-drag out fights that only siblings can get into, pull this verse out.  Tell them, “I wish I could have forty minutes of peace in this house!”  lol

Seriously, our children do need to learn to experience peace.  That only comes from obedience to God and resting in Him.  The Israelites’ peace came after obeying God and listening to Deborah, the judge at the time.  That is definitely a lesson worth learning.

Are you at peace today?  Or are you reaping the turmoil of disobedience like the Israelites were under Jabin?  Aren’t you tired of fighting?  Won’t you allow the Lord to direct your steps toward peace?

He wants to give you rest.  He desires that for you.  He wants to lead you beside still waters.  Take His hand.  He will lead!