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“The Lord Raised Up”
“But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother” Judges 3:9. Out of the whole generation that came out of Egypt that were twenty or older, the two good spies, Joshua and Caleb, were allowed to enter the Promised Land. Judges begins with the death of Joshua and then gives a good story of Caleb giving his daughter to his nephew as Othniel was willing to obey God and drive the unworthy inhabitants out of the land. This same man is listed as the first deliverer of Israel after the cycle of sin and deliverance is described in chapter 2. The focus is never on the willing servant, however, but God. When the people cried out in their sins for salvation, it is God who raises up a deliverer. The people never knew from where he would come but just trusted that from the very rocks that God could raise up children for Abraham. In Elijah’s day, God reserved 7000 for Himself. Today, of course, we have Jesus who always saves. But, as we look at our churches in this sinful world, we may wonder where our next leaders and influencers are. Could it be you that He’s raising up?