God Always Waits with Open Arms (Judges 3.9, 15) ‣ Praying Through the Bible

But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the Israelites, who delivered them, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man.

Background

The first prayer in Judges (3.9, 15) appears at the beginning of the story of the first judge, Othniel (3:1–11). This is the shortest story about a judge, and the prayer is quite brief. Israelite men were marrying women from among the foreign peoples, and marrying their daughters to foreign men. Instead of teaching their pagan spouses about God, they were joining them in the worship of the god Ba’al and the goddess Asherah. As a result, God allowed the Aram-naharaim to conquer them. For eight years the people were the subjects of King Cushan-rishathaim.

Finally, the people of Israel cry out to God. God heard, and gave the people a leader—a judge—named Othniel (the son of Caleb’s younger brother). Othniel raised an army and defeated the King of Aram. God enabled Israel to be victorious.

The second prayer is part of the story about Ehud, the second judge (3.12–30). The writer tells us that, after the defeat of Aram by Othneil, the Israelites “did what was evil” again, beginning a cycle that will continue through the entire book. This time, the King of Moab and two allies attack and conquer some tribes and their lands. After suffering for eighteen years under the King’s rule, the Israelites cry out to their forgotten God (3.15). God enables Ehud as a leader and gives his spirit to him. Ehud, using the ruse of appearing before the King to offer a tribute, kills the King. God once again delivered the Israelites from their enemies, even though it was their own straying nature that caused the problem.

Though the author of judges only mentions the prayers briefly, the words are almost identical to the Israelites’ cry to God when they were enslaved by Egypt. For eight years and then eighteen years, the people suffered. How many years were they “doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord”? The text does not say. Fifteen years? Twenty? Forgetting about God, living how they wished, and doing what they wanted. Even after they were conquered, they suffered for many years before finally crying out to God. Yet, immediately after their plea, God answered.

Meaning

These are important examples of the character of God—He is always waiting for us, always listening for us. We forget, we turn away, and we go head down self-centered paths. Perhaps we even reject Him completely. We might even find ourselves in a mess, and yet we keep ignoring Him. Maybe forget about Him. Perhaps we are embarrassed to ask after so long. Possibly we assume he doesn’t care anymore, since we ignored him for a long time.

We would be wrong. He cared before, and he still cares. He still hears. This image of God is also found in Isaiah 65.2, where God is depicted as holding out his arms out to his people forever, despite their rebelliousness. His arms never get tired. He waits. Like the father who he sees his prodigal child coming back home (after his rebellious jaunt), and is overjoyed rather than angry (Luke 15).

Application

As you pray this week, consider this aspect of God. Perhaps you have been away, yet He is waiting for you with arms open. What will you do? It is time to walk back into those arms. Offer a prayer for the strength, for forgiveness—offer your own “crying out.”

Or perhaps you are in the those arms, and do not need to return. It might be worth thinking, then, about how you can use this characteristic of God to pray for others who have strayed. Like God, we also should look with joy at the repentance of others, rather than looking back at their sins with judgement. God never tires of waiting for us; we should be as patient and welcoming when others cry out. Offer an intercession for those people, and a petition that your attitude will mirror God’s attitude.

Enrich your prayers!