A thumb for a thumb

Principle:  God’s judgments often demonstrate a reaping of the specific fruit of our sins.

Not every judgment of God is explained so clearly as the historical account of Judah driving out the Canaanites from their allotted territory.  After capturing King Adoni-Bezek the leaders of Judah did a strange thing.  They cut off his thumbs and big toes.  Unless the record had told us “Why,” then those that do not trust God’s judgments would have accused Judah of torture.   God judgments are always in relationship to His own character, counsel, and often we can find in Scripture a cause and effect relationship as to the “Why.”  When we cannot understand the “Why,” we still must trust that God’s judgments are righteous and there is a “cause and effect relationship to the seeds of inequity that have been sown.”

6 Then Adoni-Bezek fled, and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 7 And Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” Then they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died (Judges 1:5-7, emphasis mine).

Adoni-Bezek pride was so great that he took pleasure in seeing his conquered kings fight for scraps like dogs under his table. Yet, his conscience had not been completely silenced for when his thumbs and big toes were cut off, his own conscience cut him and condemned him.  Notice that this wicked king agreed with God’s judgment, “As I have done, so God has repaid me.”

This judgment is a warning to us individually and as a nation that unless we humble ourselves before God and seek His forgiveness then we will one day reap a terrible harvest.  Our national sins are much greater than Adoni-Bezek cutting of the thumbs and big toes of seventy kings.

Consider the recent news of claims that some abortionists were cutting up the body parts of innocent babies to sell. What is so grieving is that while King Adoni-Bezek admitted his guilt to God, a large percentage of our national leaders have had their conscience silenced to the cries of the innocent babies that have been aborted.

Prayer: Oh Lord, your judgments are righteous and our nation has sinned greatly.  Please help us to humble our hearts before you in true repentance.  Forgive us for the millions of innocent babies that we have killed.  Oh God raise up Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, Governors, Judges, and national leaders who humble themselves before you and agree with your judgments.