Falling Asleep to Reality
Judges 3:7-18
Synopsis Judges 3:7-18 6/5/2018
The children of Israel served the Baals and Ashterahs. God allowed Cushan-rishathaim, king of Naharaim to rule over the Israelites for eight years. Then, after the Israel cried out to the Lord, He raised up Othniel to lead Israel. Othniel led the Israelites to victory and there was peace for forty years.
Then the Israelites again forgot the Lord and worshipped other gods. God allowed Eglon, king of Moab to rule over Israel for eighteen years.
Othniel the Nephew of Caleb
This Othniel was the same as the one who captured Kiriath-sephar and won Caleb’s daughter Achsah as his bride.
Falling Asleep to Reality
Eighteen years seems like a long time to struggle under the tyranny of a foreign ruler. As an American, it’s a little hard to imagine how the resistance under Othniel took so long to form.
But a little life experience tells me that eighteen years isn’t that long for a community to remain asleep. Smart as I like to think I am, it sometimes takes a while for me to make the connection between my behavior and my outcomes.
Paying attention means measuring performance. Even if that means no more than a daily examination of conscience, build processes that make cause and effect more obvious.
“All the sentinels of Israel are blind, they are without knowledge; They are all mute dogs, unable to bark; Dreaming, reclining, loving their sleep.” Isa 56:10
