When Victory Doesn't Come Immediately

Wrestling with Judges 20: When Victory Doesn’t Come Immediately 

A few days ago, a friend reached out to me with a troubling question about Judges 20. She was wrestling with the fact that Israel had prayed and sought God’s direction before going into battle, and yet, despite God telling them to go, they lost. This paradox weighed on her heart, and in turn, I’ve spent the last several days meditating deeply on this chapter. 

To understand the weight of this passage, we need context. Judges 20 describes a brutal civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the remaining tribes of Israel. The conflict erupts after a horrifying crime: a Levite’s concubine is raped and murdered by men from Gibeah, a city within Benjamin’s territory (Judges 19). In a shocking and symbolic act, the Levite dismembers her body and sends the pieces to all twelve tribes, calling for justice. 

The other eleven tribes are united, outraged, not only by the crime but also by Benjamin’s refusal to hand over the guilty men. Scripture notes that they “moved as one,” bound together by a shared sense of righteous anger and grief. War ensues. 

Naturally, many of us would side with these eleven tribes. Their cause appears just. They inquire of God and are told to proceed. But then the unexpected happens, they lose, twice. 

Let’s pause here and dig into the deeper truths of this passage. 

"In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25) 

This verse, though at the end of the book, casts a long shadow over everything in Judges. A nation without God’s divine order will inevitably become entangled in human corruption. Israel assembled 400,000 men at Mizpah. Their anger was justified, but their posture was not. They sought God’s direction, but not His heart. They went to war, but not in repentance or humility. 

On the first day, 22,000 Israelite soldiers fall in battle (Judges 20:21). Still, they return and weep before the Lord, asking again if they should go. God says yes, but the second day ends with another devastating loss: 18,000 more lives (Judges 20:23). 

Finally, something shifts. 

“All the Israelites... went up and came to Bethel and wept, sitting before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and offered burnt and peace offerings.” (Judges 20:26) Then they inquired again: “Shall we go up again to fight... or shall we stop?” And the Lord responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.” (Judges 20:28) 

This time, they won. But the cost was staggering. 

Victory! But At What Cost? 

The war ends with 25,000 Benjamite’s deaths. Gibeah is destroyed. Only 600 men from the tribe of Benjamin survive, hiding in caves. Israel has secured justice, but they are left to grapple with the weight of what they’ve done: they have nearly annihilated one of their own tribes. 

This leads to the deeper question: Why did God allow them to lose twice before granting victory? That question, while valid, might be the wrong one. The better question might be: What happens when a nation forgets God? 

This chapter is not just a record of a battle; it’s a culmination of spiritual decline. The seeds of spiritual decline were evidenced in earlier chapters: 

• Idolatry went unchecked (Judges 17–18) 

• The Levites became compromised 

• Hospitality and decency were perverted 

• Justice was delayed or ignored 

Judges 20 is a sobering reminder of what happens when sin becomes normalized, and brother turns against brother. The cause may be just, but without the right heart posture, even the right battle can be lost. 

Heart Posture Over Head Count? My Thoughts... 

The Israelites had the numbers. They had the cause. They even had God's permission. However, they lacked humility. They were not broken or contrite before the Lord. Benjamin was unrepentant and prideful, they acted without divine direction, and though they won at first, their end was nearly total destruction. 

Victory alone does not prove God’s favor. This is a harsh truth believers must understand. Sometimes, success is allowed, even for the unrepentant, because God is after something deeper: the transformation of the heart. 

Israel finally won when they fasted, wept, sacrificed, and surrendered, not just in word, but in spirit. Only then did God respond with deliverance. He will not share His glory, and He will not honor trust placed in numbers, chariots, or strategies over Himself, this I believe was God’s alt against Israel. 

A Challenge for Us Today 

Friends, how often do we believe we’re trusting God, only to discover, IF we’ve ever discovered, we’ve placed our faith in people, resources, or plans? God, in His mercy, may allow losses to expose our hearts. Not to punish us, but to draw us into deeper dependence on Him. 

So, this week, I challenge you: ask the Holy Spirit daily to search your heart. Invite Him to reveal any pride, misplaced trust, or hidden sin. As Psalm 139:23–24 says, “Search me, O God… see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” 

Remember: God values our heart posture more than the works of our hands. As we humble ourselves under His mighty hand, in due time, He will lift us up.