This is the 3rd in a short series focusing what Israel’s earliest leaders, the judges, have to teach us. Today’s leadership lesson comes from a little-known judge of Israel, Jair of Gilead . . .
“He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair. When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.” (Jdg 10:3-5)
These three verses contain all that are recorded about Jair and the majority of the verses speak not of him, but of his sons-all thirty of them. Though we don’t know where Jair himself lived, or if he had any means of transportation, we know that his sons did! Each one had a donkey, and they each controlled a town in Gilead. Jair of Gilead equipped his children with two vitally important parts of existence-transportation and shelter!
What lesson is there in this for us? Simply this: When we produce spiritual children, we must disciple them, and when we disciple them, we must equip them with shelter and transportation!
But what kind of shelter are we speaking of here?
King David not only made this clear, but he also explained WHY this shelter is important: Ps 31:20-“In the shelter of your PRESENCE you HIDE THEM FROM THE INTRIGUES OF MEN; in your dwelling you KEEP THEM SAFE from accusing tongues”; Ps 61:4-“I long to dwell in YOUR TENT forever and take REFUGE in the shelter OF YOUR WINGS”; and Ps 91:1-“He who dwells in the shelter OF THE MOST HIGH will REST in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Friends, the “shelter” we must provide for our spiritual Children is none other than Jesus Christ. We must teach them to “rest” in Him, to take “shelter” in His presence, to lodge in His tents and under His wings. We must show them how to take FULL advantage of the Sabbath rest spoken of in the book of Hebrews (See Hebrews 3 & 4) by teaching them how to cast all of their worries upon Him: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Pe 5:7). We must help them to realize that we do NOT need to worry about ANYTHING, for the God who cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the fields will also care take care of us! “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ . . . your heavenly Father knows that you need them . . . do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Mt 6:31-34)
But what about transportation? Our children need to grow in the Lord, and we must ensure that they have the vehicle to do so!
But how do we do this?
We must follow the example of the apostle Paul: “My dear children, for whom I AM AGAIN IN THE PAINS OF CHILDBIRTH until Christ is formed in you . . .” (Gal 4:19); and “I KEEP ASKING that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I PRAY also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparable great power for us who believe” (Eph 1:17-19); “we CONSTANTLY PRAY for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith” (2 Th 1:11); and “I PRAY that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (Phm 6).
When we disciple our spiritual children, we must commit to PRAY for them, that they will be filled with Christ Jesus, that they will have wisdom and discernment, that they will know Christ better, that they will understand completely the hope to which He has called them, the inheritance He has for them and the incredible power available to us if only we believe. In so doing, we will be providing them the “donkeys” they need to keep on growing in Christ, to keep on experiencing more and more of His power in their lives and to live the rich, full lives that He has for them!
Friends, when it comes to discipling spiritual children, remember Jair of Gilead. Provide them with shelter by teaching them to “rest in Jesus”; and provide them with “transportation” by committing to pray with them to grow in the Lord!
Please see next Tuesday’s edition of The Nugget for the next lesson in leadership, brought to us by Ibzen of Bethlehem . . .
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.)