1 Maccabees 5:40-44: a reflection

40Timotheus said to the captains of his army when Judas and his army drew near to the brook of water, “If he crosses over to us first, we won’t be able to withstand him, for he will certainly defeat us; 41but if he is afraid, and encamps beyond the river, we will cross over to him, and defeat him.” 42Now when Judas came near to the water brook, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook, and commanded them, saying, “Allow no man to encamp, but let all come to the battle.” 43Then he crossed over against them first, and all the people after him; and all the Gentiles were defeated before his face, and threw away their weapons, and fled to the temple at Carnaim. 44They took the city and burned the temple with fire, together with all who were in it. Carnaim was subdued. They couldn’t stand any longer before the face of Judas.

As Judas approaches a brook where the enemy waits, the enemy commander says something revealing: If Judas crosses over to us first, we won't be able to withstand him; but if he is afraid, and stays on his own side, we will cross over and defeat him. The whole battle, the enemy sees, will turn on whether Judas commits or hesitates. And Judas crosses first, committing fully; and the enemy is routed. His decisive commitment, rather than hesitation, carried the day.

Notice what the enemy identified as decisive: whether Judas would commit or hold back in fear. If he crossed first, committing fully, he would prevail; if he hesitated, afraid, staying on his own side, he would be defeated. The difference was not in numbers or position, but in decisiveness: to commit fully or to hold back. And Judas committed, crossing first; his decisive commitment, not hesitation, brought the victory. The choice between committing and hesitating made the difference.

That difference, between decisive commitment and fearful hesitation, is one we often face. Before some challenge or calling, we can either commit fully, crossing over decisively, or hold back in fear, hesitating on our own side; and often, as the enemy saw, the outcome turns on which we choose. Hesitation, holding back in fear, can defeat us where decisive commitment would prevail. When you face a challenge or calling that requires commitment, do not hold back in fearful hesitation, which can defeat you; commit decisively, crossing over as Judas crossed the brook first. There are times when the difference between victory and defeat is simply whether you commit or hesitate; commit fully to what God calls you to, rather than holding back in fear, as Judas crossed first and prevailed, while hesitation would have handed the enemy the victory.

Lord, as Judas approached a brook where the enemy waited, the enemy commander said something revealing: if Judas crosses over to us first, we won't be able to withstand him; but if he is afraid, and stays on his own side, we will cross over and defeat him. The whole battle would turn on whether Judas committed or hesitated. And Judas crossed first, committing fully; and the enemy was routed. His decisive commitment, rather than hesitation, carried the day. Show me what the enemy identified as decisive: whether Judas would commit or hold back in fear. The difference was not in numbers or position, but in decisiveness. And Judas committed; his decisive commitment, not hesitation, brought the victory. That difference, between decisive commitment and fearful hesitation, is one I often face. Before some challenge or calling, I can either commit fully, crossing over decisively, or hold back in fear, hesitating; and often the outcome turns on which I choose. Hesitation can defeat me where decisive commitment would prevail. When I face a challenge or calling that requires commitment, keep me from holding back in fearful hesitation; help me commit decisively, crossing over as Judas crossed first. There are times when the difference between victory and defeat is simply whether I commit or hesitate; help me commit fully to what you call me to, Lord, rather than holding back in fear.