CHILDREN STS LESSON 28 VOLUME 4 THE IMMORAL BEHAVIOUR OF THE PEOPLE OF GIBEAH AND PUNISHMENT OF BENJAMIN

TEXT: Judges 19:1–30; 20:1–48; 21:1–25

“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

This last verse of the book of Judges reveals to us the genesis of the lawlessness that existed among the children of Israel at that period. It is also a summary of how that generation of Israel forsook God’s righteous standard to do whatever pleased them. Their actions brought pain, disgrace and destabilisation to their nation.

The Bible makes us to understand that:

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

Nothing good can come out of disobeying God’s word as can be seen even in our present generation. Confusion, wars, troubles, sicknesses and strange happenings are taking place in the world today all because of sin. God hates sin; He will judge and punish all sinners who refuse to repent.

When Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land, he divided the land according to their tribes. The land they occupied were given different names. Gibeah was one of the cities that belonged to the tribe of Benjamin.

All the twelve tribes were expected to be governed by God’s commandment. Alas! They forsook God’s word to serve idols. A man from another town came to Gibeah with his wife and needed a place to rest. Instead of showing love to him, the people of Gibeah treated him badly. Some of their young men committed immorality with the man’s wife and she died in the process. This is a wicked act.

The people of Gibeah refused to punish the evildoers. They were determined to help and cover up their evil deeds. When one supports or encourages another child to do bad things, he is a partaker of that person’s evil and will also share in the punishment for the evil deed. Do not cover up the sin of another child because he is your brother or friend. Report any wrongdoing to the teacher or your parents and do not be a partaker of the sin of another person.

The action of the Benjamites in Gibeah led to a serious conflict. This also resulted in unnecessary destruction of lives and properties. The destruction of the Benjamites was a direct punishment from God for their wicked acts. All that God demands from sinners today is true repentance. If you are still a sinner, the door of God’s mercy and salvation is open; do not delay to accept the grace that Christ offers to everyone.

1. THE SINFUL LIFESTYLE OF THE INHABITANTS OF GIBEAH

(Judges 19:1–30)

Benjamin was one of the descendants of Jacob, also called Israel. And the children of Israel were not expected to fight or make wars with one another. Unfortunately, Israel as a nation had departed from sincere obedience to God’s word. This made the people do whatever was right in their own eyes.

A man and his wife were travelling through the land of Gibeah to their own city. By nightfall, they could not continue with their journey. They decided to lodge with an old man in the town of Gibeah. In the middle of the night, certain wicked men in the town attacked the house, took the woman out to a dark place and raped her till she died.

Rape is a wicked and terrible sin. In many countries, anyone found guilty of rape or sexual assault is liable to many years of imprisonment or even the death penalty.

As a young Christian girl, you must run away from boys or men who try to lure you, sometimes with gifts, to secret or lonely places in order to fondle with your body and commit sin with you. It does not matter whether he is your brother, uncle, neighbour or even teacher. You must flee from all appearances of evil.

The children of Benjamin refused to punish the men that did evil in their land. The entire tribe demonstrated that:
(a) they did not value justice but supported lawless people
(b) they had no regard for God’s righteous standard.

Because of this, God punished the whole tribe.

We must not cover up the evil of others; any child that does that is a partaker of such evil. Every sinner will definitely be judged. Therefore, speak out against sin and stand for righteousness.

2. SEVERE PUNISHMENT OF BENJAMIN

(Judges 20:1–48)

The man whose wife was killed made a report of the wickedness of the people of the tribe of Benjamin in Gibeah. When the other tribes in Israel heard what was done, they were very angry. True friends of Jesus must be angry at sin. They must run away from sin and speak against it in the lives of those around them.

These other tribes first demanded that they should bring out the wicked men who did the evil act to suffer for the evil they had done. The Benjamites of Gibeah refused to expose the wicked men. They preferred to protect evildoers.

There are serious consequences for every evil done by an individual, a family, group of people or even nations. The refusal of Benjamin to punish the evildoers among them led to their destruction. War broke out between the two groups; thousands were killed and the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out. Nothing good comes out of sin; it leads to hatred, confusion, fighting and all sorts of evil.

There is no peace in the world today because of ungodly acts. We hear of wars, murders, kidnapping, ritual killing, cultism, rape, robbery, terrorism and confusion. This is because people have refused to obey the word of God.

However, you can make the difference like Abraham did. He stood in the gap to plead for Sodom. You can stand in the gap for your family, church and nation through sincere prayer for God’s mercy, holy living and obedience to His word among the people. You can also do personal evangelism by calling all sinners around you to repent and live in peace with all men.

The judgment of God is fast approaching; sinners must repent so as to escape it and enjoy the peace of God.

3. SALVATION FOR THE REPENTANT REMNANTS

(Judges 21:1–24; Isaiah 1:16–20; Acts 3:19; 17:30)

At the end of the war, only few of the children of Benjamin were left alive. The few men who escaped ran into the mountain to hide. Then the remaining eleven tribes became concerned because one out of the twelve tribes of Israel was almost totally cut off. They decided to forgive and reestablish the remnant of the children of Benjamin. They, therefore, provided the means whereby they would marry wives, have children so that they can grow and become a big family again.

This is the picture of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. We are sinners and deserve to be punished and cast away. However, God does not wish that anyone should perish. Therefore, He made provision for sinners to be saved through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Repent from sin today; do not delay. Pray and confess all your sins to God. Ask for forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of Jesus. Turn away from all your bad ways. Accept Jesus as your personal Saviour and Friend.

You must continue to follow Him till the end so that you will have a place in His heavenly kingdom.

QUESTIONS

1. ______ is the city of the Benjamites.
2. The Israelites and the Benjamites were brothers — Yes/No?
3. Mention the reason for the trouble between Israel and Benjamin. ______
4. What was the consequence of the refusal of Benjamin to punish the evildoers?
5. Mention three things that a Christian can do to make a difference in this corrupt world.
6. What steps should a sinner take to be saved? ______

MEMORY VERSE

“Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.”(Judges 20:13)

LESSON:

Sin brings trouble and judgment.

THOUGHT:

I will run away from every appearance of sin.

ACTIVITY:

Prayer Session: Pray for—
(a) sinners to be saved
(b) revival in the church
(c) friends of Jesus to stand firm even in the midst of this corrupt world.

HOMEWORK:

Warn sinners around you about the danger of refusing to repent and tell them about the love of Jesus.

CONGREGATIONAL SONG:

GHS 40 – “Wash Me, O Lamb of God”

CHORUSES:

1. No, you can’t get to heaven without SALVATION
2. I wandered far away lost in the wilderness
3. I will never let the devil win the battle

BIBLE WORD SEARCH

Find the meaning of these words  you can use your dictionary:

1. Conflict
2. Value
3. Consequence
4. Peace
5. Co-existence