- Lesson 13 in the Connect360 unit “The Conquerors: Heroes of the Faith” focuses on Judges 2-8 and 1 Samuel 3:1-11.
We come to the last lesson in this study from the book of Judges, Chapters 1-8. So many events, so many practical lessons, and so many examples of the faithfulness of God to his people can be found on each page. The Book of Judges is about some conquerors; some were successful and used their lives to honor God. However, some judges in this book were conquered. The temptation of sin and the lure of the world proved too much for them. All of us either will be conquered in this world, or we will be conquerors through the power of God.
Many spiritually pragmatic things can be learned from the lives of Caleb, Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Barak and Gideon. Our 13-week study did not give us time to look into the lives of Tola, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon or Samson, who also are considered judges of Israel. Most great theologians will tell you there are 12 judges mentioned in the Old Testament, but since I am not a great theologian, I think there are 15. I add Caleb to the list, as well as Barak and I even put Samuel in as a judge. Although Samuel’s title was prophet, his role was very similar to the judges in the book of Judges. In fact, 1 Samuel 7:15 says, “Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.”
Scripture re-calibrates and corrects us
My prayer for you as we finish this study is that God has caught your heart’s attention. I pray that you have spent some time in God’s presence evaluating your heart, your obedience and your agenda for life. A look at the judges should also require a look into our own hearts. If we see some strengths in them that we see in ourselves, let’s build on those strengths. If we see some weakness in them that we see in ourselves, let’s course correct and thank God for the grace of seeing the things that need to change in our lives.
The Lord uses his word to re-calibrate us and correct us. As Paul was telling Timothy about the power of God’s word to do what he wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” This is what we want, we want to be corrected so we will be complete. We want to be trained, so we will be equipped for every good work.
You may not feel qualified. You may feel like you come from a weak spiritual background. You may feel like a nobody or simply insignificant. Every judge in the Old Testament could probably relate. But God loves to use those who may feel shaky or inferior or incapable.
God is not looking for your ability, but your availability. Tell God today that you are his. Tell God today that you are available for any task, any calling, or any mission that he has for you. And then listen and watch for any and every opportunity he may have for you. I wonder sometimes if we miss an opportunity because we are not listening closely to hear and obey his guidance.
Compiled by Stan Granberry, marketing coordinator for GC2 Press, formerly known as BaptistWay Press.
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