Judges 10:1-2 – Tola
We have noted before that there were twelve judges of Israel of whom the Book of Judges tells us. Six of these – Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson – are considered major judges. The history recorded in Judges gives us quite a bit of information about these leaders of God’s people. Of the other six – Shamgar, Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon – we are told very little, and, thus, they are called “minor” judges.
Today, we come to the brief account of the judgeship of Tola. After the time of Abimelech, Tola “arose to save Israel.” We are not told from whom or what he saved Israel. Perhaps it was from the civil strife caused by Abimelech’s conflict with Shechem. We learn that he was a man of the tribe of Issachar. His father was named Puah, and his grandfather was Dodo. We also learn that he lived at Shamir in the land of the tribe of Ephraim, which illustrates that such judgeships went beyond the level of tribal government.
That we know little of the minor judges does not mean they are unimportant. Today, many people labor for the Kingdom of God in obscurity and the only earthly record of such service may be on a membership roll or in a file of ministers’ credentials. In Matthew 23:12, Jesus says, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” If you labor for Christ’s kingdom, rejoice that He knows what you are doing, even if few others do.
Questions
- Why is Tola considered a “minor” judge?
- Does this mean he was unimportant?
- What does Jesus say about our work for His kingdom, even if no one on earth notices it in our lifetime?
Prayer Points
- Ask God to help us to be humble.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.