Othniel: The rescuer
Throughout the book of Judges, God’s people turn away from Him over and over again. Each time, they end up suffering as slaves because of their unfaithfulness. Eventually, they get tired of their struggle and they cry out to God for help. Then, God answers the cries of His people by raising up judges.
These judges were the men and women God chose to lead His people back to freedom and Himself. While the judges were chosen by God, they were just human - normal people like you and me! Because of this, they weren’t perfect. In fact, in their stories, we see that most of them were very far from it. Each of them was a flawed hero. None-the-less, God uses each of them powerfully.
The first judge, like the ones who would come after him, was raised up by God because God’s people had turned away from Him.
Judges 3:7 | The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. They forgot about the Lord their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles.
They were captured by the Aramites and suffered for eight years.
Judges 3:9 | But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz.
As Israel’s judge, Othniel went to war against Israel’s enemy—
Judges 3:10b-11a | …and the Lord gave Othniel victory over him. So there was peace in the land for forty years.
How was Othniel able to conquer the Aramites when no one else could? The Bible doesn’t call him a mighty warrior like Gideon. He also isn’t praised as being a devout follower of God like Noah. The only thing the Scriptures share as noteworthy about Othniel isn’t actually about Othniel at all —
Judges 3:10a | The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge.
Othniel was empowered by the Holy Spirit and God in Him delivered Israel.
Unlike the New Testament, in the Old Testament, God’s followers had not all been given the Holy Spirit. So Othniel’s story is amazing!
Even more amazing? If you’re God’s follower, the same Spirit of the Lord that empowered Othniel empowers you today!
The Holy Spirit is the Helper who helps us in many ways (that we will see all week!) and empowers us to be rescuers, just like Othniel—rescuers who point others to the One who can save them from their bondage to sin and death.
Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
What is a rescuer?
What did God’s people need to be rescued from? How did Othniel rescue them?
What made Othniel’s victory possible?
In what way did God make you a rescuer? Who needs you to share the way of rescue and what do they need to be rescued from?
Do you feel ready to be a rescuer (who tells others about salvation through Jesus)? Why or why not?
How does the Holy Spirit help rescuers today?