The book of Judges is a study of human nature. It is also a study that will help us examine what is taking place in our world, our nation, and within the Church. A repeated theme in Judges is that people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. The same is proving true today.

In the account of the book of Judges, the Lord allowed unconquered nations to remain in the land to test a generation of Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. There was a reason those unconquered nations were allowed to remain, “He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle” (Judges 3:2).

What we see happening in our world today that is abhorrent to a truth-seeker will be used by God to do in us what He did in the generation of Israelites who had never confronted the enemy or experienced warfare. We will learn how to fight. While the evil in the world is to be challenged, it should not be our primary focus. Our focus must remain on the Lord, not the earthly turmoil. He will prove to be forever faithful to fulfill His promises if we are willing to obey His commands.

We often refer to a righteous remnant who remains faithful to God. We don’t define those who fight against the will and purposes of God as another remnant. An opposing remnant can teach us as much about life in the Spirit as the examples of a faithful remnant. There is a reason for the presence of evil remnants remaining in our land, “These people were left to test the Israelites – to see whether they would obey the commands the Lord had given to their ancestors through Moses” (vs. 4).

For thousands of years, our spiritual ancestors who we now see as the heroes of the faith remained steadfast in honoring God and His truth, some paying the cost that obedience with their very lives. Their examples are the testimonies that keep us on track with truth and not succumb to what Paul described as “lies so clever they sound like the truth” (Ephesians 4:14). This generation of faith needs to learn how to engage in spiritual warfare. Sadly, it is not a popular sermon topic in many churches. This kind of warfare is not fought with steel swords, but with the wise and judicial use of the sword of truth.

We have two remnants at work in our world – a remnant who still believes in the integrity of Scripture and another remnant who opposes the truth of God, even when the truth is plain to see. The intersection where those two remnants meet is where the current spiritual battle is being waged, a battle not seen by natural sight, but with sight provided by the Spirit that allows us to see into the invisible realm where the most decisive battle is being waged. 

We have a question each of us needs to ask and answer. Will we follow the truth of God regarding all areas of life, even if that obedience is mocked or dismissed, or we will do whatever seems right in our own eyes? The answer to that question will determine what remnant we will represent to the world and what impact we will have in God’s Kingdom.