8/28/26

The Kindertransport started with the 1938 visit of 29-year-old stockbroker Nicholas Winton from England, who traveled to Prague to find out that many Jewish children were doomed to German aggression and concentration camps unless they were removed from Czechoslovakia. He immediately went to work to arrange transport, secure visas, even forging when necessary, getting British Government approval, and funding the operation. His home nation required him to find a foster family for each child before they were allowed in. In less than a year, he had managed to save 669 children. Each had been documented in a book he kept with pictures and information about the foster family. Unfortunately, the last transportation train was captured by the Germans. It was his largest transport, and 250 children were captured. Most of these children later ended up in concentration camps, with only two known to survive the Holocaust. After the war, Winton married and never even mentioned his passionate work or the lives he had a major part in saving. 50 years later, his wife found the book covered in dust in the attic and, without his knowledge, turned it over to a television show called That's Life. He was later recognized and honored by Queen Elizabeth II with Knighthood. When accepting honors, Sir Nicholas Winton spoke with characteristic humility, consistently deflecting praise from himself to emphasize the bravery of others, especially Trevor Chadwick, who did the majority of the work in the dangers of Prague.

Both men died having saved 669 children and never seeking recognition.

Look at our text today and notice the similarities. Judges 10:1-5 NASB95 Now after Abimelech died, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel; and he lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. He judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried in Shamir. After him, Jair the Gileadite arose and judged Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities in the land of Gilead that are called Havvoth-jair to this day. And Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

45 years of leading the nation to follow God, which was not an easy task, yet barely mentioned in Scripture. Immediately after their deaths, the nation went back to idol worship and suffered their deserved punishment. Yet these two men, who are responsible for keeping Israel in the righteousness of God, are both mentioned only in two places.

This is an example of how we are to react to our service to the Lord. Not seeking attention, but knowing that our goal is for God to be recognized and glorified instead of us. This is because we know that we are not worthy or deserving of praise. We should understand that it is God working through us who accomplishes the goal of our Lord.

In Luke, Jesus says this same thing in a way that we should completely understand. Luke 17:9-10 NASB95: “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”

Today in society, and often in the church, the response to our own obedience is not, "We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done,” but instead, " Give me glory, applause, and honor, because I did one thing that I ought to have done.

We are not on this earth, and we are not living this life so that we will be remembered and thought well of, but so that our Lord will be proclaimed and worshipped.

May our thoughts be changed and our actions be humble so as to bring glory to God our Father.

You can't do this unless you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you because Jesus is your Lord and Savior. I pray that if you don't, you will receive Him today. He did all the work! Will you place your God-given faith in Him?

Love Brother Scott