What about this third entreaty made it more acceptable?
God assisted Israel in winning the war over Benjamin, but He certainly did not approve of all that they did. Can you recall cases where Christians and even churches seem to have a measure of success, but where God would not approve of their practices and ethics?
The tribe of Benjamin thought they were getting away with their defiant attitude defending the sinful city of Gibeah. But God suddenly changed the course of events.
During the time of the judges everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes, ?In those days there was no king in Israel. What was right in his own eyes was what each one was accustomed to do.??Judge 21:25. But from God's point of view, there was gross moral sin and depravity. The tribe of Benjamin was desensitised to sin, perhaps thinking of homosexuality as simply sexual preference. This immoral condition challenged the faithfulness of the rest of the tribes of God?s chosen people. Does this sound familiar ?
Beware of viewing success as a sign of God's blessing. The slaughtering of so many of them in the beginning imposed a great test upon the faithful tribes, especially with regard to the rightness of their cause. By letting the faithful tribes suffer such losses, forty thousand men in two days, Jehovah was testing them to see whether they would be persistent in this determined effort to uproot this gross evil in Israel when it brought such great losses to themselves. (Benjamin?s thought God was on there side)
Was Israel faultless in this incident? No, because it took such horrendous deeds to finally cause moral outrage in Israel.
Why did the Lord allow Israel to be defeated twice before the victory? To make Israel realize that they had to get right before the God before they could have victory. They had evidently relied on themselves and their action was not primarily motivated by interest in clearing reproach from Jehovah?s name. High Priest Phinehas was with the sacred Ark that had been brought from Shiloh to Bethel, where the army was encamped. But after the two defeats they fasted and offered burnt offerings and communion offerings, thereby recognizing the need for Jehovah to fight the battle for them. Only then did Jehovah deliver the Benjaminites into their hands. ?Judg. 20:20-29
The thousands of faithful ones who died because of the disciplinary campaign died in a righteous cause. The survivors who gained the victory vindicated themselves before Jehovah God and before all the readers of his Word. This vindication was worth the cost, and the nation of Israel was purged of a very degrading moral evil.
?If My people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14.
regards
Te..