Among all the things we can love about God, surely His longsuffering patience is very special.
For eight long years, the children of Israel were ground under the heel of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia. God waited in heaven, listening for their call for help. Then, at long last, “the children of Israel cried out to the Lord” (Jdg 3:9). Say, have you ever been put on hold for a long time by a company you’re calling? Then, when they finally come back on, do you feel like saying, “Could you hold for me; there’s something I need to do,” and leave them waiting as long as they did to you? God had been waiting for His people to respond for eight years! But it seems, as soon as they cried out to Him, “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). We’ve already been introduced to this man, haven’t we! His name, The Force of God. His wife, the faithful Achsah. Caleb, his older brother, a lion for God. His mission, to take the city of Kirjath-Sepher from the giants. Now it’s time to settle down on their farm with its springs, and enjoy the blessing of God. Not quite! God’s people need help. And what happened? “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim” (v 10). Imagine a king over the great land of Mesopotamia fleeing before a Negev farm boy! Well, not quite. It was the Spirit of God upon him and the Lord going before him that was the secret of his victory. Say, Christian, are you facing some REALLY big challenges? It might encourage you to remember that the Spirit has come upon you (Acts 1:8) and the Lord fights for you, too (2 Cor 2:14).