This is the 1st in a short series focusing some of the lessons that Israel’s earliest leaders, the judges, have to teach us. Today’s leadership lesson comes from one of the early judges, Caleb’s nephew Othniel, the son of Kenaz, . . .
“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 upon 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.” (Jdg 3:9-11)
It hadn’t been very long since the death of Joshua when Israel slipped up. The sad story is recounted in the second chapter of Judges: “After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. In his anger against Israel the LORD handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.” (Judges 2:10-14)
But God is merciful, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime.”(Ps. 30:5). The very second the people turned from their wicked ways and cried out to the Lord, He was right there, waiting to raise up a deliverer for them. And He didn’t have to look far to find Othniel, the nephew and son-in-law of the steadfast Caleb.
We are told perhaps more about Othniel than about many of the judges of Israel. We know that prior to being appointed a judge by God, he attacked and captured Kiriath Sepher (Jos 15:16); he married Caleb’s daughter, Acsah (Jos. 15:17); and he judged Israel for 40 years (Jdg 3:11). Two last important points are recorded about Othniel: He was filled with God’s Spirit, and God placed Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram, into his hands (Jdg 3:10).
Interesting to note, the Bible records that Othniel was filled with God’s Spirit BEFORE he went out and conquered Cushan-Rishathaim. This is, of course, because we, humanly, cannot do the impossible without the Spirit of God working through us. But once Othniel had been given the outpouring of God’s Spirit, he went forth and did the impossible. He conquered mightily!
A great leader must be filled with God’s Spirit. Otherwise that leader is doomed for failure. And once filled with God’s Spirit, he or she, like Othniel, will go forth and conquer mightily! Nothing is impossible when one is filled with the Holy Spirit and is working according to His will! Strongholds tumble, addictions fall away, the sick are healed, fear disappears, and the list goes on.
Yes, to be a great leader, you must first be filled with God’s Spirit. Then you will go forward and conquer mightily!
Please see next Saturday’s edition of The Nugget for the next lesson in leadership, taught to us by a little known judge of Israel, Abdon, son of Hillel.
Love in Christ,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets ( www.scripturalnuggets.org ), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org
(To access the entire “Lessons in Leadership” mini-series, please click here.)