Stand Tall, The Battle is Mine

Jesu Juva..

In the first few verses of Chapter 3 in the book of Judges, we learn that God purposefully left some nations to persecute and to go to war against the Israelites.

“They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses”. Judges 3:4 NIV

This is a wonderful verse that should explain to each of us that God’s ways are not your ways.  You want all your difficulties removed and for life to be smooth and peaceful. You think God loves you if everything is perfect and there are no disruptions in your life. God says just the opposite and says I am going to leave some major problems to test you to see if you are going to be faithful.

You will notice that several times throughout the existence of the Israelites that during any period of peace. The Israelites became fat and happy and forgot their God.

“‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore, I did away with them as you have seen”.  Ezekiel 16:49-50 NIV

God is telling you that the real sin Sodom committed was to become idle, lazy, arrogant and overfed.  Those sins led them to committing detestable things before the Lord.

So here in Judges we have a group of people that God is asking them to represent Him to all the nations surrounding them. But they keep on forgetting God and trying to live like the other surrounding nations.

Verse 30 says that there was peace in the land for 80 years.  If you look ahead to the first verse in chapter 4 you will notice that the Israelites sinned again.

But there is a very interesting verse between those two verses.

“After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel”. Judges 3:31 NIV

History tells us that even in this time of peace the Palestinians were making incursions into Israel to test their armies and defenses.

One day they sent a raiding party into Israel and came upon one man. Shamgar was just out with his oxen, minding his own business.  He was not prepared for the attack in the sense of having any armor, sword or a battle plan.

He had with him a cattle prod that was just a stick used to tap the oxen and direct them to turn left or right.

An oxgoad is a long (often 8–10 feet) wooden stick, traditionally used in farming to prod and direct oxen while plowing. It is typically fitted with a iron spike at one end to drive animals, and sometimes a flat metal blade at the other end to remove soil from the plow.

Now put this picture in your mind. Six hundred men, armed and ready for battle, are descending upon you and your oxen.  They were screaming and yelling and running toward you.  They were getting ready to slaughter you and slaughter your oxen for a big BBQ.

What would be your first reaction?  Be honest. Abandon your oxen and run for the nearest safety.  Run faster than you have ever run before. You would also be screaming for the Lord to save you from certain death.

But God had already given Shamgar all that was needed for victory.  Shamgar did not consider his own safety or death.  He knew what was wrong and right. He knew that these Palestinians were attacking his God and He knew he had to defend.

The greatest weapon Shamgar had was total trust in God.  If God had given him all the implements of war, Shamgar might have believed in his own might and power. In his own skill of fighting.  Shamgar had God on his side and all he needed was a stick.

One man with God on his side slaughtered 600 enemy invaders. The verse says he saved Israel that day.

Shamgar did not wake up that morning with any knowledge or idea that was the day he was going to be called upon to save anything. Yet, when presented with an intrusion, an attack on God. Shamgar stood his ground and went on the offensive. 

All we get about this story is one little verse about an unknown man that saved Israel.  The Glory goes to God not Shamgar. 

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”. Psalms 23:4 NIV

You may be going through the valley of darkness, feeling alone, forgotten and in pain. Remember all you need is to trust God and go on the offensive. God has provided everything you need to be victorious.

Prayers for All.

Larry

Soli Deo Gloria