Scripture Text: Judges 10:1-5
After Abimelech, there arose to save Israel, Tola, the son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. And he judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir. After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died and was buried in Kamon.
Judges 10:1-5
God used Tola as the sixth judge, the second "minor" judge to lead Israel and provide peace in the land. He was from the tribe of Issachar and judged Israel for 23 peaceful years. After his death, the peace in the land continued for another 22 years under the leadership of Jair. The Lord used Jair as the seventh judge, the third "minor" judge in Israel. During their time, there were no aggressors or invaders in the land.
These two minor judges had stable leadership, both with good and long tenures because they possessed the godly character necessary for leadership (this was in contrast to the evil character of Abimelech in Judges 9). Tola and Jair fulfilled their roles during their lifetimes by obeying and honoring the Lord, leading the people towards God. The Lord rewarded them with 45 years of rest in the land. However, after their deaths, the Israelites again turned to evil and abandoned the Lord!
Even though the Israelites repeatedly went astray, the Lord did not give up on them, just as He won't give up on us, no matter how many times we mess up. The Lord desires us to listen to His voice, follow His will, and serve Him forever.
As believers and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to be used by God as His deliverers, leading based on our desire to serve and honor the Lord. We can be deliverers for our family, friends, office-mates, school-mates, and even for the enemies of the cross, just as Tola and Jair did. They both fulfilled their roles for the glory of God, and we must also do our part as leaders and members of the church by serving Him forever, for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Reflect
Do you have a desire to be a deliverer of God to your family, relatives, officemates, schoolmates, friends, neighbors, and even to the enemies of the cross by sharing the gospel?
Remember
God exalted His Son, Jesus Christ, at His right hand as Leader, Deliverer, and Savior, offering repentance not only to Israel but also to the Gentiles and granting forgiveness of sins to those who wholeheartedly surrender their lives to Jesus.
Read
Romans 11:25-36
Pray
Dear Lord, through Your ways, You save people not only eternally but also on a daily basis. Thank You because I am one of the beneficiaries of Your blessings. Through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, I continually pray to be able to use my remaining life to seriously share and proclaim Your Gospel. I also pray that more deliverers and workers will be raised in Your church, to reach the entire world, especially BGCF, and advance Your kingdom. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen!
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