GOD SENDS A DELIVERER: OTHNIEL THE JUDGE – DESPITE THE PEOPLE’S SINS

Dear Members in Christ,

God sends a deliverer: Othniel the judge – despite the people’s sins

It is a sad situation when a Christian succumbs to temptation and fails to learn their lesson. Real life examples are readily observed in Christian communities and in our society. The reformed drunkard who goes back to his liquid venom, the Christian man or woman who flits from one unequally yoke relationship to another despite repeated warnings from church leaders, the cycles of the sin which so easily beset us. In the earlier articles, we saw how God’s people fell repeatedly into sin because of their refusal to eject the Amorites of the land. God had warned them that “Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” (Judges 2:3). In their repeated cycles of sin and chastisement, they cried out to God.

“And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.” Judges 2:4-5

It seems that the Israelites had learnt their lesson, for they wept and offered sacrifice to the Lord. Well… not really. Shortly after Joshua had passed on, they fell into their cycle of sin again. The Bible tells us that “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim.” (Judges 2:11). From this, we learn of God’s longsuffering and grace despite the historical cycle of sins that plagued His people. 

A. God is gracious, He chastises His people to turn them to repentance

Idolatry is a serious breach of their covenant with God. At Mt Sinai, when the people worshipped the golden calf, God had threatened Moses that He will destroy the Israelites and start anew. When the people of God sinned against God, in the era of Judges, the Lord did not immediately destroy them. Instead, God withheld His blessing and protection over His people. This is a rather mild treatment, and the word “chastisement” would better describe this treatment than the word “judgement.”  

“And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years.” Judges 3:7,8

The result was that they became servants to a regional hegemon, the King of Mesopotamia. The phrase, “and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-Rishathaim” showed God’s purpose and intent. When one makes an unwise decision, one has to live with the consequences. By worshipping idols instead of their covenant God Jehovah, they signal their readiness to forego the blessing and protection of the Lord. The Lord God “sold them” in order to make them understand the consequence of their sins and to cause them to repent.

Dearly beloved, let us be very keenly attuned to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. When a person has transgressed, it is wise to sense chastisement and be ready to confess and repent of one’s sins.      

B. God is longsuffering and He graciously provides a deliverer

Did the Israelites turn to God? Well, they did sort of repent, for when God chastised them, they cried out to God. One can imagine what their prayers would sound like, “God, help us,” or “God show us mercy,” or “God we promise not to worship idols, ever!”. God’s purpose was to turn His people to repentance. God’s dealings with them are so kind and loving. God graciously answered their prayers, He granted them a deliverer by the name of Othniel.

“And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.” Judges 3:9,10

When God intervenes, He does wondrously. God’s deliverer was no ordinary man. Othniel was a man of warrior pedigree; a family member of Caleb, another warrior of renown. This will be the first of many instances where the people of Israel sinned against God many times during the rule of the Judges, when they are chastised, and God graciously provided a deliverer.

Brothers and sisters, the lesson here is that we must always obey God’s commandment. The Israelites repeatedly disobeyed God, yet the Lord is ever gracious in His dealings with them. Let us submit in obedience to God, and whatever our weakness, make sure that we do not fall into the pattern of repeated cycle of “sin, sorrow and scourging” like the ancient Israelites. Repentance is meant to be a sincere turning away from sin, and submission in obedience under the gracious and merciful hand of God. May God help and strengthen us all. Amen.     

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor