What does Judges 3:31 teach about God's use of unlikely instruments for deliverance? The succinct but stunning verse “After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.” (Judges 3:31) What immediately stands out • Just one sentence, yet packed with divine action. • No pedigree, lineage, or military résumé offered—only his name, his tool, his victory, and God’s outcome: “he also saved Israel.” Who was Shamgar? • A farmer-type figure—his weapon is a livestock prod, not a sword. • “Son of Anath” may hint at a mixed or rural background, underscoring his obscurity. • No judge before or after him is described in so few words, highlighting that God, not biography, is the focus. An oxgoad in God’s hand • An oxgoad was a wooden stick tipped with iron, used to prod oxen—ordinary, unglamorous, and defensive at best. • God turns a farm implement into an instrument of national deliverance. • The text gives no hint of supernatural theatrics; it simply states that Shamgar “struck down six hundred Philistines,” affirming the literal power God supplied. Echoes throughout Scripture • Moses and a shepherd’s staff (Exodus 4:2; 14:16) • Gideon and a clay jar with a torch (Judges 7:20) • David and a sling with five stones (1 Samuel 17:40) • A boy with five loaves and two fish (John 6:9–11) • The cross itself—“the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25–27) Why God chooses unlikely instruments • To display His sovereignty—He alone saves (Psalm 115:1). • To confound human pride—“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.” (1 Corinthians 1:27) • To encourage faith—if God can use an oxgoad, He can use anyone surrendered to Him. Lessons for believers today • Availability matters more than notoriety—God looks for willing hearts, not impressive résumés. • Ordinary resources become extraordinary when yielded to Him; nothing is too common for divine purpose. • Victory is the Lord’s; our role is obedience. Shamgar did not manufacture success—he simply acted, and God delivered. Take-home reflection Whatever your “oxgoad” may be—skill set, workplace, conversation, or act of service—place it in God’s hand. His pattern in Judges 3:31 assures that He delights to rescue and advance His kingdom through unlikely people wielding unlikely tools, all for His unmistakable glory. |
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