Judges 20:1 “Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah.”
COMING TOGETHER FOR A PURPOSE
We read in Judges 19-20 that a great evil had been done to one of the sons of Israel, and the entire nation came together to hear and reply. I am reminded of our national response after September 11, 2001. The entire nation came together to mourn and then respond to a great evil which had been done to us. Probably for the first time since Pearl Harbor, the nation responded as one.
Why does it take tragedy to bring us together? Think about it. Families wait until a funeral to get together. People reach out when they hear someone has been in a car accident or has fallen ill. Why do we wait until something bad happens to unify? God wants us to come together now!
TEACHING MOMENT
Our children must be taught the importance of family. We need each other. Some families do a great job of being together. Others don’t. The next time your family has a get together or a family reunion read them this verse. According to how old they are, read them the entirety of Judges 19-20. It is a difficult passage for children, but one we can learn from.
As children grow and move away it gets more difficult to stay connected. Don’t let distance be an issue. With the advantages today of technology, distance is not a hindrance. You can still stay connected. Unity – it’s important for nations, but it is also important for families.
Is your family unified? Do you have “squabbles” that have been left unsettled? Make them right today. Reach out to those whom you have been separated from because of hurt feelings or something else. Above all, we Christians must set the example of unity in our families. We must show the world how to live.
A Moment In Time 