Skip to main content

Othniel- Called by God to be Great- Answer the Call (Judges 3:8-11)

By October 12, 2022Worship

Othniel is the first judge chosen by God to deliver His people after eight years of servitude to a foreign king because of the their disobedience and idolatry.  Israel soon forgot the glorious things God had done for them and their nation.  As they move into a period of ease they forsook God and were seduced into lasciviousness and false religion.  The Israelites no longer trembled at the words of God.  They no longer adhered to his laws, statutes and commandments.  As a result they no longer enjoyed the physical and spiritual blessings that came with a close fellowship with him.  They became slaves to the foreign King Chushanrishathaim (Chu-shan-rish-a-tha-im).  Instead of blessings, the children of Israel grew and toiled in the fields only for others to eat their food.  Their homes were taken over by their enemy and they were forced into homelessness in the streets.  Their women and children were forced into slavery, their glory became their shame, their hope gone, their self-confidence destroyed. All of these heartaches because of their own disobedience.

Upon hearing the people’s penitent cry God delivered them by calling upon Othniel (Jud 3.9).  Othniel came from the royal tribe of Judah and was a brother and/or son-in-law, or even perhaps a nephew to the great Caleb (one of the two faithful spies, the other being Joshua).   In either case Othniel was a kinsman to Caleb.  We were first introduced to Othniel when Caleb had promised his daughter (Achsha) to the one who would drive out one of his enemies.  Caleb gave Achsha a blessing and provided for her and her husband Othniel land with springs of water on it.

The inspired writer tells us the “Spirit of the Lord came upon” Othniel (Jud 3.10).  Othniel’s exemplary conduct and character allowed him to become an instrument of God in doing the will of God for His people.  Othniel utilized the talents, given him by God, to turn back the wicked Mesopotamian king Chushanrishathaim who had enslaved them.

After defeating the wicked King, Othniel judged God’s people for forty years and they had rest from war.  Othniel was a great servant for God when God’s people needed a great servant.  His greatness in service can be found in his humility, his willingness to place his talents into the will of God, his choice to refuse to live comfortably for self, and serve God’s people.  Othniel served God and his people.  So too, today, God chooses us to do great things for His kingdom and in our world.  Will we answer God’s call for humble greatness in service like Othniel, the first judge?

Leave a Reply