And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 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.
Thought for Today
Have you ever noticed how greatness sometimes runs in a family? History is replete with siblings who went on to do great things.
The very first judge of Israel was Othniel. His name may not mean anything to you, but his lineage is striking. Moses was succeeded by Joshua, who led the people into the promised land. Joshua’s life-long friend and right-hand man was Caleb, who remained with Joshua until he died in Judges 2. When the people cried out to the Lord to rescue them, the Lord found another faithful champion among Caleb’s family. Othniel was Caleb’s little half-brother. They shared the same mother.
It is powerful to realize the impact of the faith and parenting of one unnamed Israelite woman. Not only had her son Caleb been second in command of Israel during the conquest of the Promised Land, but her younger son Othniel had been used to save Israel and usher in 40 years of faithfulness and peace.
If may be a struggle to raise young men of faith in our day, but God can use one man raised with faith to redeem an entire nation. Do not lose heart. God will honor your hard work.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, bless the parents struggling to raise young men and women of faith in our day. Let them be bless to see the fruit of their labor as You use them to Your glory. Amen.
Devotional Quote
A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on. ― Carl Sandburg
Quote of the Day
We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future. ― Franklin D. Roosevelt
Judges: Othniel
Judges 3:7-11
And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 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.
Thought for Today
Have you ever noticed how greatness sometimes runs in a family? History is replete with siblings who went on to do great things.
The very first judge of Israel was Othniel. His name may not mean anything to you, but his lineage is striking. Moses was succeeded by Joshua, who led the people into the promised land. Joshua’s life-long friend and right-hand man was Caleb, who remained with Joshua until he died in Judges 2. When the people cried out to the Lord to rescue them, the Lord found another faithful champion among Caleb’s family. Othniel was Caleb’s little half-brother. They shared the same mother.
It is powerful to realize the impact of the faith and parenting of one unnamed Israelite woman. Not only had her son Caleb been second in command of Israel during the conquest of the Promised Land, but her younger son Othniel had been used to save Israel and usher in 40 years of faithfulness and peace.
If may be a struggle to raise young men of faith in our day, but God can use one man raised with faith to redeem an entire nation. Do not lose heart. God will honor your hard work.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, bless the parents struggling to raise young men and women of faith in our day. Let them be bless to see the fruit of their labor as You use them to Your glory. Amen.
Devotional Quote
A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on. ― Carl Sandburg
Quote of the Day
We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future. ― Franklin D. Roosevelt