But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them.

Judges 3:9-11

9 But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. 10 The Spirit of the Lord came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. 11 So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.

Today’s title is “Cry Out To God”

Israelites at the time of Judges were highly ungrateful; and rebellious. We are very disappointed at the behaviors of Israelites at the time of Judges in general. At some points, we even feel shocked and disgusted at their blatant disobedience of God and horrible actions. What’s even worse, they don’t seem to learn from painful lessons. They repeat the same sin of idolatry and rebellion, again and again during this period. They are even getting worse over the period. At the end of the book of Judges, it is literally becoming “hell on earth”. But one thing that puzzles the reader of the book of Judges that God still answers to them when they cry out and sent judges to save them. We see the first example of the pattern in today’s passage. The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel and he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim. It was just anger of God against rebellious people of God. But when they cried out to the Lord, He raised up for them a deliverer. This is a pattern that will be repeated throughout the book of Judges. I personally felt irritated and angry at the repeated pattern at first. Even with my sinful nature, the repeated rebellion and idolatry of Israelites deserve righteousness and finishing judgment of God. It didn’t seem to me that the outcry of Israelites was not out of faith or repentance but out of pain and agony. But God hears them all the time they cry out and save them. “Why does God do that?” I wondered. What do you think is God’s answer? I think I got the answer as I grew older and have more experience of people as a pastor. God wants to save His people so strongly as to take away His own righteous anger and judgment over and over. Without such endless forgiveness of God, no man can escape from God’s anger. Jesus said “Forgive seven times seven those who sin against you repeatedly. The book of Judges shows us a glimpse of God’s never-ending love and perseverance for His people. Just cry out to Him whether you are worthy of forgiveness and grace. He is quick to answer. So are you still unhappy about God’s repeated answer to the cries of the people? I am sure I am not.