When I read Judges 3 and 4, I can’t help but think of the people living in those particular times influenced by the particular judges who helped free them from the oppression of foreign rulers; and of the people living within those foreign kingdoms. That got me thinking about cohorts in every age – groups of people living in specific time frames, sharing experiences of their times.

I grew up in a specific span of time that those who grew up in that particular time can relate to in a way that those who grew up before or after that time will not understand as fully.

In reading about the judges in Israel’s past, I’m reading through the lenses of my life experiences. What has my life experience taught me? God is with me. I’m not alone.

When I read about Othniel, Caleb’s younger brother (Judges 3:9-11); Ehud the deliverer sent by God, a left-handed man (Judges 3:15-29); Deborah, a prophet (Judges 4:4-24)…I’m reading about people who knew God was with them and they were able to influence those around them to remember the Lord and in that remembering, they found peace in the land.

That got me thinking about how God has opened my heart and expanded it to include not only Him but His family who are my family. We all need friends. We all need family. We all need God. Cohorts. I have cohorts that I only see on Zoom but they are family in every sense. I have the fellowship of church members who delight in learning about God and how personal His touch and love are…family. I have the joy of friendships forged in shared love and experiences that are dear to me…family. I have the blessing of learning how to love selflessly and receive love as a daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, sister-in-law, mother-in-law…family dearly loved and needed every one.

One day we will all be together as family in the real sense of the word and that family will expand to include all of God’s children who are dearly loved by Him and we will learn together what real love is. How I look forward to that day when I can meet people I have only read about. How about you? Who would you like to meet you have only read about? And the beauty of that time will be God who makes all possible.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Ephesians 3:14. Cohorts.