Spirit and Life Devotional is a daily publication by Pastor Chinaemerem Ibezim, senior pastor of Able Ministers Chapel, a church based in Calabar, Cross River State.
“Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the Lord and fasted until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.” – Judges 20:26 NLT
I encourage you to read the entire story, from Judges 19. Here’s a summary: eleven tribes of Israel against the tribe of Benjamin; 400,000 warriors of Israel versus 26,700 soldiers of Benjamin.
Twice, the army of the Israelites prayed and sought the will of God concerning the battle, and God asked them to go ahead, but guess what; 22,000 of the Israelite army were killed, and then 18,000 the second time. Notice what was happening: an army of 400,000 was being defeated by an army of 26,700 men, even though they prayed to God!
But something changed the game. After the second defeat, the Bible says that they prayed and fasted, and also gave the Lord burnt offerings and peace offerings. This time around, God said to them, “Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”
What prayer and fasting did not do, offerings did it for them. There’s something about offerings that move God: Noah gave God an offering and God swore never to destroy the earth with water again; Solomon gave uncommon offerings and God appeared to Him in a dream. Try giving God an offering that He truly deserves and you will see things turn around for your good. Amen.
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