“But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.” Judges 3:9-11
Othniel, the Deliverer
The people of Israel have been making terrible decisions and reaping the consequences. They abandoned God and started serving false gods and worshiping idols. God allows them to experience defeat the hands of their enemies and bondage. Their suffering causes them to rethink their situation. They cry out to the Lord and He actually comes to their defense.
What?!?
I am so grateful that God is so much more merciful and compassionate than I am. I would not have been so quick to respond to the Israelites’ cries for help. But God is so much more gracious than I am. When the people cry out for help in their suffering, God raises up Caleb’s nephew Othniel.
The Spirit of the Lord upon Othniel
The Lord raises up Othniel as the deliverer and first major judge of Israel. God’s Spirit is upon him, enabling him to dispense wisdom and lead militarily. God gives Othniel and the Israelite army victory over their enemies. God brings peace to the land for forty years while Othniel is judge over the nation.
Who was Othniel?
We only hear details about Othniel in one other instance in Scripture:
“And Caleb said, “Whoever strikes Kiriath-sepher and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.” And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she got off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.” Joshua 15:16-19
We may not have a lot of text about Othniel, but I think this short passage gives us some insight into his character. Othniel sees the opportunity and instead of focusing on all the reasons that he may not be successful, he takes action. He reaps the benefits of Caleb’s daughter Achsah as his wife and an inheritance of land. His wife attains an additional blessing for both of them, gaining the upper and lower springs – valuable water sources in a desert land.
A Man God Can Use
God knows that when He calls and empowers Othniel, this man will step up and do what needs to be done. This man of action with the Spirit of the Lord upon him is exactly what Israel needs in this moment. Othniel will be a man God can use.
ACTION STEP:
Let’s take a few moments to see how we could be a little more like Othniel. Do we take action right away when the Spirit leads us to do something? Or, do we find reasons why we are not equipped or not ready or just plain can’t? Are we ready to listen to the leading of God’s Spirit? Are the circumstances around us causing us to turn to God and be used by Him or are they causing us to panic and worry? What can we take action on today, right now?
Please post your thoughts and pics under Week 6 in the Facebook group @DevoInAction (https://www.facebook.com/devoinaction) or post on Instagram and tag me @devoinaction!
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PRAYER:
Dear God, Thank you for so many different heroes of the faith throughout the Bible from whom we can learn. Show us how we can take action for Your purposes this week. Help us to hear the call of Your Spirit and respond immediately. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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