Life can be hard with a four week old. My daughter is often quite unpredictable and can change the trajectory of the day with just a few inconsolable nap periods, unexpected “stomach” problems, or even a seeming smile the doctors call gas that I just can’t walk away from. Impatience is far too quick my response. On top of this there are ministry responsibilities, household tasks, and numerous other things that I feel I am paying inadequate attention to. It makes me feel very weak and pathetic as a leader.
I have been studying Judges lately for much of my devotional time in the Bible. Time and time again I am encouraged by what seems in many ways to be a very disheartening book. The cycle of the nation of Israel’s disobedience and idolatry is relentless. I have often avoided reading this book precisely because of Israel’s repeated failures. Now, however, while reading it more carefully along with a study by Tim Keller, I am seeing things I’ve never seen before. As usual with reading the Bible, the more one slows down and “soaks in” the text the more one gets out of it.
I’m through chapter 10, and already Israel has done “what was evil in the sight of the Lord” by serving and worshiping other gods countless times. Still, God provides a “judge” or savior in every circumstance. God uses people like Othniel, Ehud, Deborah and Barak, Gideon, and Samson to judge Israel. I didn’t exactly grow up in the Church, but a couple of those names ring a bell. I usually associated such judges as strong and powerful leaders. Now, however, I am seeing more and more the common theme in the book of Judges. Ehud was certainly an unlikely hero. Barak was not very confident and needed Deborah’s support to make most all of his critical leadership decisions. Gideon was incredibly insecure, and Samson was a testosterone-driven meat head. Yet, some of these men are mentioned by the Hebrew writer as prime examples of men who walked by faith. They “through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises…were made strong out of weakness, and became mighty in war.” What?! Read about some of these men in Judges! Many of them are weak and pathetic. Hmmm…sounds familiar.
Thank God that my source of life is not my impeccable character and perfect leadership, but Jesus Christ! The above judges were merely types until the true judge should come, Jesus Christ. My weak and pathetic state is not what needs be dwelt upon, rather realities like 1 Cor. 1:27-30, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
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