Othniel: The Lion of God

Preacher: Ed Rangel
Date: May 25, 2025
Service: Sunday PM Service
Location: Church of Christ on Badger Street
Springboard Scripture: Judges 3:9–10 (NASB 1995)

“When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to save them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother…”

I. Introduction

A. Attention Getter

The Book of Judges is a grim cycle of rebellion, punishment, deliverance, and relapse—but it begins with hope.

Judges 2:11-12 — “Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they abandoned the Lord…”

B. Background Information

After Joshua’s death, Israel entered a period of spiritual instability. This was the first time the people completely fell away from God as a nation.

Joshua 24:31 — “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua…”

C. Thesis Statement

Othniel, Israel’s first judge, serves as a model of Spirit-empowered leadership and prefigures Jesus Christ, the ultimate Deliverer.

II. Body

A. Israel’s Rebellion and Consequence

• They forgot the Lord and served Baals and Asherahs.
• God sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram.
• Their failure began with neglecting to teach the next generation.

Judges 2:10 — “…another generation rose up after them who did not know the Lord.”

Illustration: A family that never talks about its history loses its identity.

Application: Teach your children, grandchildren, and your spiritual family about the works and Word of God. Faith doesn’t pass itself down.

Israel entered a five-step cycle: sin, servitude, supplication, salvation, and sin again.^[1] Judges reveals that Israel is incapable of covenant faithfulness apart from a Spirit-anointed leader.^[2]

B. God Raises a Deliverer

The people cried out to the Lord in repentance. God, in mercy, raised up Othniel.

Othniel’s qualifications: nephew of Caleb, a man of faith and heritage. The Hebrew term “judge” here implies a vindicator—a divine agent for rescuing God’s people.^[3]

God had left enemies in the land as a test for Israel’s faith and obedience. Othniel becomes the divine response to their failure.^[4]

Cohen notes that the judges served not as mere officials, but as living icons of divine power, putting a human face on Yahweh’s mercy.^[5]

As Clifton points out, Othniel’s call comes not as a representative of national identity, but as a faithful member of a godly household. In Judges, identity is deeply rooted in family, not nation.^[6]

In a fractured society, family remained the primary structure of stability. God chose a faithful household to lead His people through chaos.^[7]

Judges 3:9 — “The Lord raised up a deliverer…Othniel the son of Kenaz.”

C. Spirit-Empowered Leadership

The Spirit of the Lord came upon him. He judged Israel and went out to war. God gave Cushan-Rishathaim into his hands.

Spirit-led leadership brings clarity and decisive action, unlike the confusion of worldly leadership.^[9]

Othniel acted without hesitation or bargaining, unlike Moses or Gideon—indicating immediate obedience to the Spirit’s prompting.^[10]

Zechariah 4:6 — “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord.

D. Peace and Legacy

The land had rest for 40 years. Othniel’s leadership was marked by faithfulness and effectiveness.

After his death, the people fell away again—showing the importance of righteous leadership.

The peace Israel enjoyed was tied directly to Othniel’s presence and God’s Spirit upon him.^[11]

Cohen argues this peace was so evident that even Israel’s enemies recognized the power behind Othniel’s judgeship.^[12]

Proverbs 16:7 — “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

E. Connection to the Cross

Othniel is a type of Christ: a Spirit-filled deliverer raised up by God. Just as Othniel saved Israel from temporal oppression, Jesus saves from sin and eternal death.

Where Othniel brought temporary peace, Christ brings eternal peace.

Isaiah 9:6 — “For a Child will be born to us…And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

III. Conclusion

• Israel rebelled.
• God raised Othniel.
• The Spirit empowered him.
• He brought peace.

Final Challenge

Like Israel, we live in days of moral chaos, spiritual amnesia, and cultural compromise. And like Othniel, we are called not to blend in — but to stand up, Spirit-filled, and faithful.

The question isn’t whether God still raises deliverers. He does.
The question is: Will you be one?

Call to Action: Trust Christ. Be led by the Spirit. Pass on the faith. And when your generation is drifting, be the one who stands up, filled with the Spirit of God, and brings them back to truth.

Judges of Israel (Expandable Table)

Footnotes

1. Willmington, The Chapters of Judges, p. 2. ↩
2. Cohen, “The Judges,” p. 88. ↩
3. McInteer, “Othniel,” p. 3. ↩
4. Willmington, p. 2. ↩
5. Cohen, p. 88. ↩
6. Clifton, p. 23. ↩
7. Clifton, p. 15. ↩
8. Cohen, p. 89. ↩
9. McInteer, p. 4. ↩
10. Cohen, p. 89. ↩
11. Clifton, p. 23. ↩

Works Cited

1. Willmington, Harold. The Chapters of Judges. Liberty University, 2018.
2. Cohen, John. “The Judges.” 1994 Conference Proceedings.
3. McInteer, George. “Othniel.” Great Preachers of Today Vol. 4, 1974.
4. Clifton, Bruno John. Family and Identity in the Book of Judges. Durham University, 2015.
5. Block, Daniel I. Judges, Ruth. The New American Commentary. Broadman & Holman, 1999.
6. Keller, Timothy. Judges for You. The Good Book Company, 2013.
7. The Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible 1995 Update. The Lockman Foundation.
8. NIV Study Bible. Zondervan, 2011.