June 9, 2023 — Othniel Takes The Challenge

The first judge, the young man Othniel, is very ready to jeopard his life to capture—a wife!

The story we are about to discuss actually occurred where it was first recounted, in Joshua 15:13-19. Although it is significant in that context as the first step in God’s promise of the land being dispersed, we passed it by then and reserved it to be discussed here. There the emphasis is on Caleb, the faithful scout who wholeheartedly followed the Lord. Here the attention shifts to his soon-to-be son-in-law, Othniel, the first of the judges. Why is it repeated here? The story will be the high-water mark in the book, the standard by which all the other events are judged. The description begins with the men of Judah starting their mopping-up operations in the hill country. Then we zoom in to focus on one man, Caleb, and his family. Having been awarded first choice in the land for his loyalty to the Lord, he has selected Hebron. Its ancient name was Kirjath Arba, meaning “City of the Four,” for the four giants who lived there. Now Caleb had an eligible daughter named Achsah and, perhaps to winnow the field of possible suitors, he said, “Whoever attacks Kirjath Sepher [Hebron’s twin city] and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife” (Jdg 1:12). That would do it! Othniel (meaning “the force of God”) readily took up the challenge. In classic he-man understatement, the account simply reads: “And Othniel…took it” (v 13). Get ’er done, they say today. As it is today, some may bemoan the encroaching age of those faithful servants of God who are, one by one, heading Home. But if these old-timers would once more give the call to arms, and offer young men and women the chance to serve with them, who knows what Othniels and Achsahs would rise to the challenge before us.

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