C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON For March 22, 2020 God in the Administration of Man, Unit Two: THROUGH THE JUDGES / LESSON FIVE Part 2
C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
God in the Administration of Man.
Unit Two: THROUGH THE JUDGES / LESSON FIVE
Part 2
March 22nd, 2020.
II. HE STARTS WITH OTHNIEL (Judges 3:1-11)
Othniel (meaning ‘lion of God’) became the first Judge of Israel after the departure of Joshua and ‘leaders who knew God’. Israel was under the oppression of king Chushan-rishathaim of Mesopotamia for 8 years (Judg. 3:8), until they cried to God. Othniel became God’s answer to that cry.
A. THE PEOPLE SUFFER FOR THEIR SINS (vv. 1:8)
Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Chushan-Rishathaim eight years (v. 8).
i. vv. 1-4: God deliberately left those gentile nations in the land to test what was inside of His people and to train them to know war. God has the best for His people, regardless of the situations (Jer. 29:11; Rom. 8:28).
ii. vv. 5-6: Intimate connections with the wicked increase the temptations to adopt their sentimenta and imitate their example (cf. Num. 11:4-6). By this unholy alliance, their principles of worship were relaxed and later aborted.
iii. v. 7: As a result, they forgot the Lord their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs (v. 7). Don’t ever go there, else, you are far distanced from your Creator and Lord (2 Cor. 6:14ff).
iv. v. 8: They forgot they served the jealous Yahweh who cannot share His glory with any man or creator (Exod. 20:5; 34:14; Deut. 4:24; 5:9; 6:15; Jos. 24:19). He pounced on them, selling them into the enemies’ hands. Don’t try God with sinfulness; you can’t bear the weight of His wrath.
v. In spite of God’s gracious acts to His people, they brought forth bitter and poisonous fruits and so, walked in slippery places. Their fall and destruction became inevitable (Ps. 73:18). Don’t wait till you are caught in the web!
B. When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother (v.9).
i. v. 9a: Israel had had her turn, and now it was God’s to prove His holiness — retribution. Thank God the Israelites knew the right place to go — to the merciful Yahweh (cf. Psa. 51:1ff; 1 Jn. 1:8-10; 2:1,2).
ii. v. 9b: God’s mercy raised up a deliverer, judge, for them Othniel, who had previous exploita of faith, courage and trust in God (1:13), to restore joy to Israel (cf. Psa. 30:5; Matt. 11:28).
iii. v. 10: God worked through Othniel by His Spirit. No one can do anything meaningful, except by the Spirit of God (Zech. 4:6; Rom. 9:16). God, in administering His people all over the world, gives strength to mortals for the fulfillment of His purposes (cf. Acts 1:8; 13:1,2).
iv. As He used Othniel, Moses, Isaiah, Elijah, Elisha, Ezekiel, etc., (Exod. 3:1ff; Is. 61:1; 1 Kgs. 18:46; 2 Kgs. 3:15; Ezk. 3:14), are you available for the Lord? For Othniel, his military experience and character helped him, while his gallant works won his people’s confidence. Who are you before God, the great Administrator, and among your people?
v. v. 11: The land didn’t just have rest for those years; it is God in action. Nations who rebel against God do so at their own peril. God reigns over all nations. May we continue to embrace Him to His peace (Jn. 14:27)!
vi. God’s judgment does not exclude His own people. Anyone who says in His will at any point is His own (cf. Jn. 1:12). He doesn’t have a favorite that too big to chastise. Ask Moses, who through, saw Him face to face, was forbidden from entering Cannan (cf. Exod. 33:11; Deut. 32:49-52). LESSONS DERIVED
1. Those who found it too hard to obey God’s gracious commands won’t find it funny when He brings their enemies upon them.
2. God’s answers to the cries of His people are always within them, but they must be the distinguished ones.
QUESTIONS
1. Explain this statement with respect to the people of Israel after they settled in Cannan: “to be forewarned is to be forearmed”
2. God’s anger does not last forever. Explain this statement with God’s raising of Othniel to deliver Israel from bondage.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:
i. This statement means that if you know about something before it happens, you can be prepared for it.
ii. Right from the giving of the Law, through Moses, God had expressed His displeasure for idolatry and warned against it (Exod. 20:3-5). He also had warned that they utterly destroy the aborigines of Canaan. They must destroy their altars. No unequally yoking with them.
iii. God already knew that the people of Canaan were not innocent. They didn’t accept God, though they heard about Him (Jos. 2:11).
iv. God was already waiting for their cup of sin to be full, before He would send the descendants of Abraham to occupy the land they occupied (Gen. 15:16).
v. The entire society of Canaan acted in a sinful way, and so, God’s covenanted children shouldn’t mix with them, else they would be polluted and corrupted. They would take their mind away from God (3:7), win them to serve idols, such as Baal and Asherah, and lure them into ungodly intermarriage (Judg. 3:6).
vi. But gradually, the Canaanitesade Israel to forsake God. A thing that made God Himself to sell them off (3:6).
vii. The same people became a snare to them, as they impoverished, despised and dealt ruthlessly with them (Judg. 6:1ff).
viii. So, when they expected God to help them wipe the people out, He did not, and so, they must learn to fight.
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2:
a. God gave the law to Israel to guide them into His will (Exod. 20). He also sent His angels, prophets and leaders to warn them, so they could return. Yet, God’s people always chose to go their own way, pleasing their souls. So, He looked on as enemies frightened and threatened them.
b. However, He cannot stand it for too long, seeing His people trampled upon, especially when they repented.
c. Since the children of Israel believed in human leaders like Moses, Joshua, etc., He raised judges in Othniel, Ehud, Samson, etc., for their deliverance.
d. How long He would put off His eyes for sinners to be dealt with, we may not know, but certainly, He will come again to save His people.
e. If you repent and return to God today, He will forgive and save you!
LIFE APPLICATION
Before the setting up of the Election Petition Tribunal, parties and individuals who feel aggrieved go into self-defence to destroy, maim and kill their perceived robbers of electoral victory. The Election petition tribunal was later set up to settle irregularities and inconsistencies arising from elections. Sometimes, the team of Judges have upheld elections of some people petitioned while at other times nullified elections of those declared winners. In any case, it is set up to right the wrongs perpetrated in the previous elections, God is the ultimate Ruler who rules in human affairs in righteousness and fairness. In the case of Israel, they were due for what they suffered and God had to allow their punishment, for a while. Anyway, His anger will not tarry for too long. His intervention brought the judges on board to lead God’s people to victory. How do we respond to those God has placed in charge of our lives? Do we obey and believe them, seeing they are God’s battle-axes? God is the ultimate judge who is not bias or perverse in judgment. When Israel felt cheated, oppressed and depressed by those they made an unholy league with, and were tired of their enslavement, they called on the Ultimate, holy God and Father, who came to rescue them. If you call upon Him today, He will answer you (Mt. 11:28,29).
CONCLUSION
Thank God for bringing us to the conclusion of this lesson. Now, we should have seen why it is not good to bite the fingers that feed us. Though Israel later got respite and support from God, when they turned to Him, they may never be able to forget that ill-treatment from those they align with. Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers; else you may not return. Like Othniel, God wants to use you to bring this erring generation back to Him. Be available!
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING FOR WEEK TWO
Mon. 16: God is the Principal Actor in Our Lives (Isa. 64:1-4)
Tue. 17: God is Ready if You Are Ready (1 Cor. 15:10; Phil. 2:12,13)
Wed. 18: God Doesn’t Sleep when You Do (Lev. 26:6; Psa. 3:5)
Thur. 19: God is the Credential You Need (Rm. 8:31-33)
Fri. 20: God is Looking for Credible, Faithful Men (Exod. 18:19-22)
Sat. 21: God Prospers only the Law Abiding (Psa. 119:88-100)