Finding Jesus in Judges

CONSIDER THIS

Judges captures a dark, disgusting and despicable time of Israel’s history. It’s defined by the theme that they abandoned the Lord and “did what was right in their own eyes.”

Where is Jesus in all of this?

In the true story of Thirteen Lives, twelve boys and their soccer coach ignore warning signs and explore a cave when an unexpected monsoon rain traps them, and they are rescued by two British divers. The movie may be called Thirteen Lives but it’s a tribute to the guys who pulled off an impossible rescue. 

So it is with the book of Judges. Instead of focusing on how messy and rebellious the people are, look carefully at how the character of God is reflected. And we can find Jesus!

Jesus shows up as the angel of the Lord, the pre-incarnate Savior stepping out of the tabernacle to be close to His people at Bochim. That’s literally Almighty God in human flesh showing up to meet them where they are. That can only be Jesus. 

And what does He do? He not only declares the character of God, He displays it: full of love, grace, goodness, forgiveness, righteousness, justice and holiness. The tragedy of sin is real and it points us straight to our need for Jesus, the One who pulls off our impossible rescue.