The book of Judges presents the reader with a pattern of behavior that is reminiscent of humans today.
- The people disregarded God’s direction to not mix with the Canaanites. The result was intermarriage and the worship of the culture’s idols.
- When the Lord disciplined the Israelites with defeat and oppressors at the hands of their enemies, they cried out to God for mercy.
- God responded by sending them judges, who delivered them from trouble.
There were 12 judges who served God and the people. The first was Othneil whose work is summarized in three verses.
But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them.
The Spirit of the LORD came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him.
So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died (Judges 3:9-11).
Othniel defeated Israel’s enemies and the land had peace for forty years because the Spirit of the Lord worked through him.
I think you will agree with me that the world is not at peace at this moment. Nearly every where you turn, people and nations are at odds with one another.
What if multitudes of God’s people cried out to him, asking for the Spirit to come on enough people that the enemies of our souls would be defeated and peace could return to the world?
What is keeping us from praying daily for God’s mercy and for his Spirit to be active with people in our times?
Ehud – The Second Judge
After the death of Othniel, the Israelites abandoned faithfulness and obedience to God. As a result, the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel (Judges 3:12) for eighteen years.
The Israelites did what we should do: Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD (Judges 3:15).
God responded and gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite” (Judges 3:15).
Edud’s plan was to meet with the king of Moab, Eglon, whose name is translated “calf.” Apparently, the king was a good candidate for a weight loss program.
Ehud brought Eglon tribute, then returned with a secret message from God. The Moabite king was so interested that he sent his attendants out of the room. Ehud’s message for the king was a sword through his fat belly, a stomach so large that it swallowed the sword whole.
Ehud left the dying king and locked the door behind. The king’s attendants thought he was on a chamber pot, so they stayed away until the realized something was wrong. By this time, Ehud had escaped.
The narrator of Judges relates what happened next.
When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them.
“Follow me,” he ordered, “for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands.” So they followed him down and took possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab; they allowed no one to cross over.
At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped.
That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years (Judges 3:27-30).
Reflections
Rudy Ross often mentions that in the Old Testament, 80 years is a common period of peace granted by God before his people turn away and face trouble. He points out that America has also experienced about 80 years of peace.
Could it be that we are now entering a time of trouble? If so, we, as God’s people, need to repent and turn to Him with all our hearts.
We should also pray for God to work in our world, raising up people filled with His Spirit to lead us back to wholehearted devotion to Him.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed the first two judges of Israel today on YouTube.
Real Voices 