Lessons in Leadership, Part 2
Abdon son of Hillel
This is the 2nd in a short series focusing some of the lessons that Israel’s
earliest leaders, the judges, have to teach us. Today’s leadership lesson
comes from Abdon, son of Hillel . . .
“After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel. He had forty
sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel eight
years. Then Abdon son of Hillel died, and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim,
in the hill country of the Amalekites.” (Jdg 12:13-15)
We know a few things about Abdon. He was the son of Hillel, for example, and
he was from Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites, and
when he died, he was buried there. There are no records, however, of
miraculous battles or daring feats. In fact, his only recorded claim to fame
is the fact that he had sons and grandsons. Forty and thirty of them,
respectively!
But why record this? After all, most men of Israel had plenty of sons.
Gideon had seventy of them, Ibzen had thirty sons and thirty daughters, and
the list goes on and on! Having sons and grandsons hardly seems a feat.
But wait a moment. David tells us that sons are like “arrows in the hands of
a warrior,” (Ps. 127:4), and “Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of
them.” (vs 5). If this is the case, then maybe lots of children is more
significant then we think, and maybe his progeny really WERE the thing that
won Abdon mention in the book of Judges!
But what significance does this have for us? In our day and age, it is not
quite as common to see homes with thirty or more children! Two to four is
our usual number. In fact, such large families doesn’t even seem as common
in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul, for example, didn’t have ANY
children of His own. Interestingly, however, Paul DOES make mention
children—thousands of them! He considered his converts as his own children
(Gal. 4:19)!
Keeping in mind that the one whose “quiver is full” of children is “blessed”
(Ps. 127:5), why not take a look at YOUR quiver, friend? How full is it
today? I know mine isn’t as full as it could be. Perhaps, like Abdon, we
should be putting more of our emphasis into producing children—spiritual
children!
But lets go back to Abdon. The Bible doesn’t just talk about his sons, it
also talks about his GRANDSONS! The first generation isn’t all that was
important, but the second as well!
Even the greatest evangelist can touch only so many people, and so often we
see people accepting Jesus at an altar call, and then we never hear from
them again. But if we put the time and effort into discipling our spiritual
children, then they, too, produce “children”—our “grandchildren”! Then the
circle of influence widens exponentially.
So let’s not only put our effort into evangelism, but also into
discipleship, so that not only can we go on the Heavenly record as having
produced “children”, but like Abdon, as having produced “grandchildren” as
well!
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to
the very end of the age." (Mt 28:19-20)
But how do you disciple them? This lesson will be taught to you by another
little known judge of Israel, Jair of Gilead. Please see next Saturday’s
edition of The Nugget for LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP, Part 3.
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets,
www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/ , Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org ,
Lyn@sermonillustrator.org .