Judges 1:9-13: a reflection

9After that, the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, and in the South, and in the lowland. 10Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron. (The name of Hebron before that was Kiriath Arba.) They struck Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. 11From there he went against the inhabitants of Debir. (The name of Debir before that was Kiriath Sepher.) 12Caleb said, “I will give Achsah my daughter as wife to the man who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it.” 13Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it, so he gave him Achsah his daughter as his wife.

As Israel continues to take possession of the land, a younger man named Othniel steps forward to capture a fortified town when Caleb offers his daughter to whoever would take it. Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it, the account says, and received Achsah as his wife. This Othniel, stepping up here as a younger man, would later become the first of Israel's judges, raised up by God to deliver his people. Here, in this earlier moment, we see the emergence of a new leader, one of the next generation stepping forward to carry the work on. God raises up faithful ones in each generation to carry his work forward; as the older generation of Caleb and his contemporaries aged, God was already raising up the next, in Othniel and others. The work of God does not depend on a single generation; God raises up new faithful ones to carry it on. Othniel stepping forward here shows God preparing the next generation of those who would serve him. God raises up faithful leaders for each generation.

Notice the emergence of Othniel: a younger man stepping forward, who would go on to become a deliverer of Israel. As Caleb's generation grew old, a new one was rising, and Othniel stepped forward here, taking the fortified town, showing the mettle that would later make him Israel's first judge. This is how God's work continues across generations: as one generation of faithful servants ages, God raises up new ones to carry the work forward. The next generation of the faithful was already emerging in Othniel. God's purposes are not confined to a single generation; he raises up faithful ones anew in each, to serve and deliver his people. Othniel's stepping forward here is a small picture of this larger truth: God preparing and raising up the next generation to carry on the work. We can worry that God's work will falter as the faithful of one generation pass; but God raises up new faithful ones to carry it on. The emergence of new leaders like Othniel shows God's provision across the generations. God is always raising up the next generation of the faithful.

That is worth resting in, for God raises up faithful ones in each generation to carry his work forward. We can worry that God's work will falter as the faithful servants of one generation age and pass, that there will be no one to carry it on; but as Caleb's generation grew old, God was raising up Othniel and others, the next generation of the faithful. God's work is not confined to a single generation; he raises up new faithful ones in each to carry it forward. When you worry that God's work will falter as one generation passes, remember that God raises up faithful ones anew, as he raised up Othniel. Rest in the truth that God raises up faithful ones in each generation to carry his work forward, as Othniel stepped forward here and would later become a deliverer of Israel, even as Caleb's generation aged; for God's purposes are not confined to a single generation or dependent on the faithful of one age, but he raises up new faithful ones in each generation to serve and carry on his work, so that we need not fear his work will falter as one generation passes, since God is always preparing and raising up the next.

Lord, as Israel continues to take possession of the land, a younger man named Othniel steps forward to capture a fortified town when Caleb offers his daughter to whoever would take it. Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it, the account says, and received Achsah as his wife. This Othniel, stepping up here as a younger man, would later become the first of Israel's judges, raised up by you to deliver your people. Here, in this earlier moment, we see the emergence of a new leader, one of the next generation stepping forward to carry the work on. You raise up faithful ones in each generation to carry your work forward. Show me the emergence of Othniel: a younger man stepping forward, who would go on to become a deliverer of Israel. As Caleb's generation grew old, a new one was rising, and Othniel stepped forward here, showing the mettle that would later make him Israel's first judge. This is how your work continues across generations: as one generation of faithful servants ages, you raise up new ones to carry the work forward. Your purposes are not confined to a single generation; you raise up faithful ones anew in each. I can worry that your work will falter as the faithful of one generation pass; but you raise up new faithful ones to carry it on. Let me rest in that, for you raise up faithful ones in each generation to carry your work forward. I can worry that your work will falter as the faithful servants of one generation age and pass; but as Caleb's generation grew old, you were raising up Othniel and others. When I worry that your work will falter as one generation passes, help me remember that you raise up faithful ones anew, Lord, as you raised up Othniel, for you are always preparing and raising up the next generation of the faithful.