God's Chosen Instruments

Scripture Text: Judges 3:31

After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.

Judges 3:31

After Judge Ehud died, next to him was Shamgar, he was the first of six minor judges and contemporary of Deborah (Judges 5:6-7). His name was foreign, so he was probably not an Israelite.

Son of Anath indicates either that Shamgar came from the town of Beth-anath (Judges 1:3) or that his family worships the goddess Anath. Since Anath, Baal's sister, was a goddess of war who fought for Baal, the expression “son of Anath” may have been a military title, meaning “a warrior”. Oxgoad is a long wooden rod, sometimes having a metal tip, used for driving draft animals (1 Samuel 13:21).

The question is, why did God use a non-Israelite judge like Shamgar to save Israel from its enemies? Whether the judge was Israelite or non-Israelite, what's important for God is to deliver and save His people from its enemies. Remember, every time the Lord anointed a judge, the Lord was with him until His people is completely delivered. In human perspective, it is impossible to kill 600 Philistine warriors in a single battle, but Shamgar did, because God alone was with him. That's why the Israelites were saved from the Philistines. Remember also that God used non-Israelite people as an instrument to serve or to fulfill God's purpose, like Pharaoh of Egypt. God used him to save the entire family of Jacob (Israel) because that time there was a severe famine in the whole world.

In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus Christ used Paul, formerly an enemy of the cross, but he was chosen by God as an instrument to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles.

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Acts 9:15

We thank God because the early Christians were used by Him as instruments and they brought Jesus Christ to us through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, that's why we are saved eternally. Before, we lived in the dark world and we have no idea who Jesus was! Now, we are blessed because of God's grace.

Therefore, we as saved Gentiles are authorized by Jesus and obliged to proclaim His Gospel to the whole world, to save more souls and bring them to our Lord Jesus Christ!

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Reflect

As new creation under the Lordship of Christ, Are you willing to be used by God as an instrument to save more souls?

Remember

Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)

Read

Judges 1:3, 5:6-7; 1 Samuel 13:21

Pray

Dear Father, thank You for being my good God. You, in all circumstances, remain to be faithfully loving to me, and in my despair, You create scenarios that save me, whether to be free or be under captivity. When I am in captivity, You make sure that even my enemies are made instruments to help in times of troubles, to become my in aid in distress. Thank You for You have never failed to show Your love by using people, places, properties, and powers to free me from troubles and save me.

I am truly amazed of who You are and what You do for me. You keep me standing in awe of You. I pray that my response for who You are, is keep my love and devotion for You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.