A NATION THAT DID NOT LEARN. Judges 3 There seems to be a trend in a nation as generations pass that the next generation is smarter, brighter, better, and completely capable of making whatever changes they want without any input from the older generation or even from lessons of history. In fact, "revisionist history" is quite popular because it makes people think that the events of the past have little, if any, impact on the present and the future.
The history of Israel is full of lessons we can apply to our lives today. The difficult times the Lord sends into our lives often come with hardship and challenge. The Israelites had to learn how to fight for their survival and how to live under God's leadership as their Commander. That generation was still young and not personally involved when they first took Canaan during the initial conquest. The previous generation failed to fully drive out their enemies in the promised land, as the Lord had commanded. Instead, they adapted to the customs of the idolaters around them. Intermarriage started blending the Israelites with people of different cultures and beliefs. But instead of others wanting to become like the Israelites, the Israelites began to take on the ways of those around them.
When God’s people associate with those who oppose God, even in business and social settings, but especially in friendships that lead to marriage, the next generation often bears the most serious consequences. The effects of marrying believers to unbelievers often cause the believer to abandon their commitment to God and the Bible in order to keep peace at home and maintain some semblance of unity for their children. There is a harmful effect of unequal yokes on a child of God.
When the downward cycle began, there was sin that was indulged in and was soon accepted as normal. The various cultural groups remaining in the land were used by God to test the children of Israel, to the point that they became servants to God’s enemies. There will always be obstacles to righteous living and holiness. This kind of life is not attractive to unbelievers until they find themselves in a serious situation and call on God. True, separation from the world system, its ways, its values, and its motivation is not popular. They think we have a "holier than thou" attitude and are irrelevant to life today. The next generation is taught in schools to be tolerant of everyone and not to hurt their feelings. "We want everyone to "feel comfortable.'"
The cycle of oppression and deliverance began when Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. The Lord allows, and sometimes directs, the enemies of His people to conquer and subjugate them to make them reflect on their ways. When the Israelites become so desperate that they cry out to the Lord for mercy, He delivers them, and they live in peace until the next generation comes of age. Then, the cycle repeats.
Obstacles are a test of faith that God allows into our lives. They keep us looking to Him for guidance and the wisdom needed to overcome them. Different situations come up to test where we have placed our trust. Problems in various areas of our lives can remind us of the importance of faith and how we should apply it when we need a solution. God knows the reason behind everything that comes our way. Sometimes, people who oppose us are used by God to focus our attention on Him and strengthen our faith. In an account recorded in the book of Acts, the early disciples clearly told those who opposed them, "We ought to obey God rather than man."
The relationships we form in our lives influence our faith. They can be positive when they build us up in our faith through sharing with others. Or they can be negative, pulling us away from God if the Lord isn't the main purpose of the relationship. Any believer can tell when their faith is weakening, even if they try to hide it. A Christian loses the deep joy that comes from fellowship with God. Instead, there's a shallow, light-hearted laugh meant to show, "I am happy." Many unbelievers around us are very kind, and we are drawn to them. There's nothing wrong with sharing interests, helping others, and caring about their well-being. But when that connection risks becoming a burden or a yoke, we must step back.
Despite the scriptural and spiritual advice of brothers and sisters in Christ, some of God's people deliberately enter into unequal yokes with their eyes wide open. Usually, it is not long before they discover there are fundamental differences that hinder or obstruct their walk with the Lord. Business, religion, marriage, and culture can enslave a child of God from which they cannot escape. The Israelites added idol worship to their devotion to God to avoid persecution by those over whom they should have had authority. Religions today seek to blend together "to make Christianity more acceptable" to those around us who are not Christians. Nothing good results from compromising the truth to make the worship of God more appealing to the natural man. Such entanglement with unbelievers—by compromising and imitating their lifestyle or religious practices—is a danger to our fellowship with God and His people. We can connect with unbelievers in friendship with the goal of letting them know who we are and what we believe. Never forget that we represent Christ.
The Israelites seemed to think that Baal, their god of agriculture, weather, and nature - whom their enemies worshipped, and Ashtaroth, the female goddess of fertility, had some beneficial features that appealed to them. We know better than to attribute any benefit to such idols, but whether we like to admit it or not, there are things that claim our time and allegiance if we are not careful. Whatever my thoughts and attention are on most of the time may be my downfall. It has the potential to cause others to stumble and control me. The pursuit of materialistic gain, fame, and self-interest can be an idol that claims us.
Into this time of departure, God raised up Othniel, The Ideal judge. (1:10 - 15; 3:9-11). He was the first one of the Period of the Judges (3:7 - 16:31). During the times of the judges, Kirjath-Sepher (city of the brook) became Hebron (place of fellowship). He and his wife, who also was one of God's people, were together in the work. He had learned from the example of Caleb. He was available for God to use, so the Spirit of the Lord came upon him for the work set before him.
He dealt with the Lord's people first and then went to war against the enemies. The Lord worked through him, and a generation was blessed because of him. He had a strong family background, a nephew of Caleb, and he had seen the principles of trust and obedience in Caleb. Othniel was a man of proven ability who had won victories, was skilled, and was proven in battle. He demonstrated courage when he took Cushan, Kirjath-Sepher was a stronghold of giants. His personal faith (3:10) led him to be directed by the Lord. "The Spirit of the Lord came upon him."
He was the man for his generation. The Spirit of God gave him the power to do extraordinary things to bring His people back in repentance where He could show them mercy. As a result, the nation had forty years of rest. The leading, guiding, and filling of the Spirit is needed in the leaders of God’s people. Holy things require holy people to be able to be used by the power of the Holy Spirit. His power enables us to do what cannot be done by human willpower or skill and to accomplish what God desires.
Some lessons for us to learn from Othniel and this passage of scripture are that we need to spend time in Hebron and the fellowship of the Lord and His people. We need to reassess our love for the Lord and get to know the Book (the Bible) better. When we do, we may tremble before it as the Word of the Living God, but with the power of its instruction, we should be filled with the Spirit, cast out worldliness from our hearts, knowing that what we do will affect our families and associates. God gives physical, mental, and spiritual strength in life so we can face the challenges will face with confidence in God.
They were not all the same; those men whom God raised up. Each one was different, and each one was committed to the Lord. One had a strong background in his family life; he had learned the fundamental principle of trust. Othniel had proven ability; consequently, through him, a generation was blessed, living in peace and rest for forty years. He demonstrated courage; he was truly a man of faith. He had trusted God and experienced God using him to bring about his peace as a man to the nation he judged.
Ehud was a different sort; he was more of a diplomat. He planned ahead and carried out what needed to be done to deliver God’s people. He faced the problem alone and used a two-edged knife that was the needed weapon against the fat king. Ehud delivered Israel from Eglon right in the king’s own home. We might have limitations, wondering if there is something we can do to deal with a great problem. When our trust is in the Lord alone, God can use you and me.
Shamgar was a farm laborer; he wasn’t one of the greatest men in the social status of the country. He wasn’t powerful and clever; he was just willing for God to use him to destroy many of the enemies of Israel and deliver His people. The enemy was religious but had never come to know the Lord. They had no Passover, no deliverance – they had no living Word. Shamgar used his ox goad, and that was really all he needed. He was one man doing God’s will under God’s power, and by God's imparted strength, Shamgar succeeded.
Those that God can use are not all used in just the same way. Leading and guiding God’s people is done in Jesus’ name for their blessing and for the glory of God. One person may seem ideal because he has all the known qualities that people expect in their leaders. Another brother may seem weak at first until you see him on his knees. Another may seem limited in education and verbal skills, but his words have holy wisdom. God can choose and use any man who wants to do God’s will.
Some brother seems so unassuming we wonder why the Spirit raised him up to lead the Lord’s people. His speech may not be so great, but he has some limitations. It often is a surprise when such a one gets up to speak. He knows the Book so well without knowing Hebrew or Greek that one person makes a comment to another, “That brother knows His God; I will follow his lead,” and puts his feet where the man of God trod.