Tola and Jair - Unsung Heros

Introduction

I began to name this the ‘Bible Person Study’, but chose to go with the ‘Bible Character Study’. I hesitated to name it that, as I don’t want to diminish the fact that these are real people we’ll be examining. But the reason that it’s named the Bible Character Study is because we’ll be focusing on the person’s character throughout. But don’t forget that these were real people, with real lives that made real choices that had real consequences.

I. Their Nature

((What is their History / Background?)

A Nondescript Lineage

While the Bible gives us the names of Tola’s father & grandfather, they are not mentioned elsewhere.

As far as Jair, the Bible doesn’t give us the names of his lineage, only that he was a ‘Gileadite’ - meaning he was the from the region of Gilead.

So what we gather from this is that their lineage was ‘nondescript’ - in other words, nothing special.

Solomon had a special father - but not Tola or Jair

They had a Nondescript Lineage

A Nonexistent History

Nothing is known concerning either Tola or Jair prior to the text that we have in Jg. 10:1-5.

As a matter of fact, they are not mentioned in the future either.

A Nonexistent History

II. Their Notoriety

(What they are known for?)

“Minor” Judges of Israel

They are known as ‘Minor’ Judges in the same respect that we call some prophets ‘Minor’ prophets.

You have some Judges - such as Samuel, Gideon & Samson that are considered ‘Major’ Judges, because much is written concerning them.

Same thing with the prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel are considered ‘major’, while Jonah, Hosea, Habbakuk considered ‘minor’.

It’s important to stress that the ‘minor’ part doesn’t mean their impact or importance, but rather their prominence.

“Minor” Judges of Israel

Judged Israel Successfully for 45 Years

Successful in the sense that there wasn’t any widespread idol-worship or Judgment that befell Israel under their watch. For 23 years Tola Judged the land, then for 22 Jair - and there’s not much written because it was largely uneventful - and that’s not a bad thing!

A lot was written about Samson - and while God used him to smite the Philistines, the Spiritual shape of Samson AND the COI was NOT GOOD.

Judged Israel Successfully for 45 years

III. What Makes them Noteworthy

(What Lessons we can Learn from them?)

Choice not Lineage Determines the Difference

As we see with Tola and Jair, though they were from nondescript lineage, they still did amazing things in their time.

One of the ills of our society today is that half of the country is blaming the plight of half of the country on their lineage, where they came from or the color of their skin. And I want to say emphatically that it doesn’t matter who your momma and daddy are, it doesn’t matter your social standing - you can CHOOSE to let your environment & heritage and such define you, or you can choose choose to define yourself.

Now we recognize that parenting has an impact on children. We just spoke this past Sunday on the impact of fathers upon their children - and while parental choices EFFECT the child, they DO NOT DEFINE the child.

Whether you fail in life or succeed, (and what that means is open to interpretation) is ultimately dependent on your choices.

Choice not Lineage Determines the Difference

A Quiet Life is Still Recognized by God

I subtitled this message ‘Unsung Hero’s’ because when anyone discusses the Judges of Israel, how many have you spoken to say, ‘Yeah, boy Tola & Jair - now those boys knew what they were doing! They did a really amazing job!’

No one typically calls out or recognizes their contribution - they are ‘minor’ judges anyway - but their contribution was very important and meaningful. Important enough for God to recognize in His Word.

As I thought of Tola & Jair, I thought about the servants in the church who go largely unnoticed. They quietly just do what is asked of them. They don’t hold the places of prominence, never are given awards or recognized - yet what they do, and the impact that they have is immeasurable.

I think of bro. Marty or bro. Ancil.

Or what typically amounts to the Wednesday night crowd

Just faithful to what God has asked of them.

They do what they can with what they have.

They do it without recognition or glory.

They don’t serve in spurts, but steady as the day is long.

Let me just say - while man may not ever give you proper due, your contribution doesn’t go unnoticed by God.

There’s more Tola’s than Paul’s

Which is Necessary

What I mean by that is that we (and I) have said that Paul changed the world. Or the 12 disciples changed the world - that’s true to an extent, but it’s better said that while there was a Paul that stood out and did this great work, it wouldn’t have mattered unless there was a multitude of Tola’s that just quietly followed and served the LORD.

They say that everything rises or falls on leadership - and while there’s certainly some truth to that, this is also true: Leadership matters not if they aren’t being followed.

Let me give you a few illustrations:

(Ill.) Consider the prophets. Jesus lamented the fact that God sent them, yet they would not listen / follow: Matthew 23:37–38 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”

(Ill.) Consider John the Baptist. Some followed him - but not the masses. Had the masses followed him, they would have followed Jesus - instead they beheaded John, they crucified Jesus - and 35 years later, Jerusalem and the temple was destroyed.

(Ill.) Consider America. Our country used to follow a man by the name of Jesus. Now is there anything wrong with the Leadership of the LORD? Yet, America refuses to follow His Leadership - and because of that, we will meet the same fate as the COI and Jerusalem!

We don’t perish for a lack of chiefs, we perish for a lack of indians.

There needs be more Tola’s than Pauls.

Tola’s and Jair’s Effect Generations

Depending on how you count, around three generations thrived in the time of Tola & Jair. It wasn’t just a few people that they had an effect on, but multi-generational effect was made by them.

This is the type effect that Tola’s can have today. An effect that lasts longer than their time on earth - but one that lasts beyond.

Tola’s and Jair’s Effect Generations

It’s Best to Learn from our Predecessors

“After Abimelech…” Tola learned that rebellion, pride and self-promotion led to humiliation and defeat. Instead of trying to emulate Abimelech, He learned from his mistakes and stayed true to God’s calling on his life.

Much like Tola, Jair learned from Tola. He learned that if you simply obey the LORD and live for His glorification instead of your own, that you could experience prosperity and peace - as he Tola did.

Church, we can learn from the previous generations. Some things to do, some things to avoid.

‘Modern’ ways to worship doesn’t work

Over the last 20 years, the church has embraced more so than ever the ways of the world. From dress, ‘look’, language, music, interests - just worldview in general. And for the last 20 years, our country has spiraled downhill. These two are not unrelated. We could learn from this and heed the admonishment in the Bible: Jeremiah 6:16a “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls….” But I fear our fate to be the same as Israel’s when says: “…But they said, We will not walk therein.”

It’s best to learn from our Predecessors

Proper Parenting Pays Off

Thirty sons (riding…)

Thirty ass colts (…governing…)

Thirty cities.

Jair is batting 1,000.

He evidently taught them:

Character, Diligence, Equity, Judgment - as God was apparently pleased with their governance.

Proper Parenting Pays Off

God blesses Generations that “Hold the Line”

The book of Judges speaks of a people on a slow decline. Joshua is the high, until they get to where they reject God as king and desire to be ‘like every other nation’.

So what you have is what preceded Abimelech (Judges 8:33–34 “And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:” ) and what happened after Jail: (Jg. 10:6-7)

But for 45 years in between, the COI experienced peace and prosperity - because Tola and Jair said ‘No, we’re not going to turn on God. We’re not going to backslide like those before us! We may not can help what they do after we’re gone, but right now, we’re not moving!’. Tola and Jair “Held the Line”

Church, we can’t help what has come before - the compromise and backsliding on God - and we can’t help what happens once our time on earth is through. But right now, we can say “No! I shall not be moved!” We’re going to hold the line! And do you know what? God will bless that effort!

God blesses Generations that “Hold the Line”

Conclusion