Y’all or You Guys?

A series on the Judges of Israel
 – Othniel from the tribe of Judah
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Judges 3:1-11 

[The book of Judges is a roller coaster ride. It’s about the history of Israel following their entry into the Promised Land. Unfortunately, Israel went through cycles of rejecting God and then repenting. Each time, the Lord saved them by raising up a leader who was called a judge. In this series, we will be looking at some of these judges to learn about God’s character as well as our own.]

 

Do you have much of an accent? Do you say “y’all” or “you guys”?

 

When I was four years old, my Dad took a job in Boston. We moved there from Charleston, W.V. Can you imagine a more dramatic change in culture, values, geography and accent? There’s a story about my Dad when he drove us to Boston that highlights just how different their accent was.

 

We arrived at night and Dad was lost so he asked a Boston police officer for directions. After listening closely to very detailed directions, Dad thanked the officer, closed the car window, turned to the family and asked, “Did anybody understand anything that he said”.

 

Moving to a new home in a new land and a new culture can be difficult. When Joshua brought the Israelites into the Promised Land of Canaan, there was a vast difference in the cultures, not the least of which was the gods they worshiped.

 

Because of this, the Lord had instructed the Israelites to drive the Canaanites, with their gods, out of the land. But instead of obeying God, the Hebrews chose to assimilate with the local culture through intermarriage and worshipping their gods.

 

As a result of the Israelite’s rebellion, they suffered devastating consequences.

 

⁸ Then the Lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-Naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.   NLT

 

When the oppression was more than they could bear, the Israelites cried out to the Lord who responded by raising up a deliverer in Othniel.

 

¹⁰ The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the Lord gave Othniel victory over him. ¹¹ So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.                        NLT

 

It doesn’t matter if you say “y’all” or “you guys”. Having your accent affected by the culture you live in isn’t life changing. But having your values, beliefs and behavior affected is. Especially when it comes to who you worship.

 

Here’s what Paul had to say to the believers in Rome about trying to fit in.

 

² Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.    Romans 12    ERV

 

The Lord delivered the Israelites through Othniel. The result was forty years of peace in the land. The Lord sent Jesus to deliver you and me with the resulting peace lasting for an eternity.

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

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