Dealing With Your Past

When the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. Judges 3:9

After coming into the Promised Land, the children of Israel backslided spiritually. In Judges 3, God allowed Cushan-Rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia, to oppress the people for eight years (Judg. 3:8). Mesopotamia symbolizes the land of our past. It was the world of sin and idolatry that Abraham forsook for Canaan (Acts 7:2-3).

King Cushan-Rishathaim is a type of Satan, the devil, the power who once ruled your life (Eph. 2:1-3). And this wicked king, from the land of the past, came with his forces to oppress God’s people once again. Satan knows that you are now born again. But like Cushan-Rishathaim, he doesn’t want you to enjoy the new life in God. He wants to make a comeback into your life. Are you oppressed with an old habit or a former lust? Or could it be a past hurt, guilt or failure? You need to have the victory over your personal Cushan-Rishathaim who has returned to haunt you.

When God’s people cried out to Him, He sent Othniel to save them (Judg. 3:9). Othniel is a type of Jesus Christ. His name means the “lion of God.” He was from the tribe of Judah. Like Jesus, the Lion of Judah, Othniel was anointed by the Spirit to set the people free from their oppression (3:10).

Deliverance must begin with a cry. God will only respond when there is a genuine desire within us to see our past dealt with by Him. Many Christians today are aware that they are oppressed by their old hurts, old lusts and old habits. But they don’t really have a desire to rid themselves of them. God will only deliver you when you really want Him and allow Him to. The Bible declares, “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Joel 2:32). Whatever your Cushan-Rishathaim may be, Jesus is your present-day Othniel. As you cry out to Him for deliverance, you will find Him to be a very present help in your time of need.