Topic: Conquest Through Cooperation [January 8, 2017]
Text: Judges 1:1-8
Key Verse: “And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him” (Judges 1:3).
You may have seen geese in flight – live or in picture. Have you ever wondered why they fly together and in a V shape? It has been discovered that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
There is great power in cooperation. The attitude of the tribes of Judah and Simeon and the result they got in today’s text, underscores this truth. After the death of Joshua under whose leadership God ushered them into the Promised Land, the Israelites determined to attack the remaining Canaanites and fully possess the land. The tribe of Judah was divinely chosen to go up first. Judah was more populous and powerful but they saw it fit to invite Simeon to fight along with them. Not only were the two tribes from the same womb (Leah), they shared a common inheritance. The tribe of Simeon, on their part, cooperated. The result of this synergy was a rousing victory over the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
They captured the powerful king of Bezek to whom they meted retributive justice (Judges 1:6,7). Israel fought to displace the wicked and idolatrous Canaanites. But Christians have a different mandate. We are not called to fight against flesh and blood “but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Our mission is to take the gospel to people everywhere so that they, realizing and accepting God’s love and the redemptive work of Christ, might be saved. Like Judah and Simeon, we are bound by a common heritage and interest. Our success in winning the world for Christ and extending the frontiers of God’s kingdom depends much on our unity and cooperation.
Thought for the day: There is no provision for Lone Rangers in the Church of Christ
Bible Reading in one Year: Matthew 17-19
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
