This is the 2nd 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 Abdon, son of Hillel . . .
“After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel eight years. Then Abdon son of Hillel died, and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.” (Jdg 12:13-15)
We know a few things about Abdon. He was the son of Hillel, for example, and he was from Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites, and when he died, he was buried there. There are no records, however, of miraculous battles or daring feats. In fact, his only recorded claim to fame is the fact that he had sons and grandsons. Forty and thirty of them, respectively!
But why record this? After all, most men of Israel had plenty of sons. Gideon had seventy of them, Ibzen had thirty sons and thirty daughters, and the list goes on and on! Having sons and grandsons hardly seems a feat.
But wait a moment. David tells us that sons are like “arrows in the hands of a warrior,” (Ps. 127:4), and “Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” (vs 5). If this is the case, then maybe lots of children is more significant then we think, and maybe his progeny really WERE the thing that won Abdon mention in the book of Judges!
But what significance does this have for us? In our day and age, it is not quite as common to see homes with thirty or more children! Two to four is our usual number. In fact, such large families doesn’t even seem as common in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul, for example, didn’t have ANY children of His own. Interestingly, however, Paul DOES make mention children—thousands of them! He considered his converts as his own children (Gal. 4:19)!
Keeping in mind that the one whose “quiver is full” of children is “blessed” (Ps. 127:5), why not take a look at YOUR quiver, friend? How full is it today? I know mine isn’t as full as it could be. Perhaps, like Abdon, we should be putting more of our emphasis into producing children—spiritual children!
But lets go back to Abdon. The Bible doesn’t just talk about his sons, it also talks about his GRANDSONS! The first generation isn’t all that was important, but the second as well!
Even the greatest evangelist can touch only so many people, and so often we see people accepting Jesus at an altar call, and then we never hear from them again. But if we put the time and effort into discipling our spiritual children, then they, too, produce “children”—our “grandchildren”! Then the circle of influence widens exponentially.
So let’s not only put our effort into evangelism, but also into discipleship, so that not only can we go on the Heavenly record as having produced “children”, but like Abdon, as having produced “grandchildren” as well!
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt 28:19-20)
But how do you disciple them? This lesson will be taught to you by another little known judge of Israel, Jair of Gilead. Please see next Saturday’s edition of The Nugget for LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP, Part 3.
In His love,
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.)