Life Lessons From Judges Eglon, Ehud & Shamgar God is in Control

The Theme of Judges God is in Control Judges 2:16 (ESV) 16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.

The Theme of Judges God is in Control Othniel Judges 3:9–10 (ESV) 9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.

The Theme of Judges God is in Control Gideon Judges 7:2 (ESV) 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

The Theme of Judges God is in Control Judges 2:13–14 (ESV) 13 They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. 14 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.

God is in control whether we participate or not! Eglon 3:12-14 - the Lord strengthened Eglon 3:21-22, 28 – the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand The man whom God had strengthened will eventually be reduced to a heap of fat and excrement. (Block, 159) God is in control whether we participate or not!

Ehud 3:15 – a left-handed man He is described as a left-handed man, lit. ‘restricted as to his right hand’. In the eyes of an Israelite, this was regarded as a physical defect… (Cundall, 77)

Ehud

Ehud 3:15 – a left-handed man He is described as a left-handed man, lit. ‘restricted as to his right hand’. In the eyes of an Israelite, this was regarded as a physical defect… (Cundall, 77) God uses unsuspecting people and unsuspecting ways to accomplish his will.

Shamgar, the son of Anath His name suggests he was not an Israelite Of all the judges, whether ‘majors’ or ‘minors’, the names of their tribes or their cities are mentioned; but we have no direct indications with which to place Shamgar geographically. (A. Van Selms, 295)

Shamgar, the son of Anath His name suggests he was not an Israelite Shamgar’s name is apparently Hurrian [or Hittite], not Israelite, and his designation as ‘son of Anath’ probably refers to the Canaanite warrior goddess Anath. If so, it is ironic that God used a non-Israelite warrior to deliver Israel from its enemies. (ESV Study Bible)

Shamgar, the son of Anath His name suggests he was not an Israelite In Canaanite mythology Anath was at the same time the consort of Baal and Canaanite goddess of war. But Anath’s fame extended far beyond Palestine. At the beginning of the nineteenth dynasty she was accepted into the Egyptian pantheon, functioning particularly as the goddess of war and personal protectress of the Pharaoh. (Block, 173-174)

Shamgar, the son of Anath His name suggests he was not an Israelite We don’t know what tribe he was from like every other Judge His name is not an Israelite name His surname represents a pagan goddess v. 31 – “and he also saved Israel” “he also”…in addition to the other Judges? “he also” …in addition to what he was trying to do?

Shamgar, the son of Anath His name suggests he was not an Israelite Killed 600 of the Philistine with an oxgoad …his weapon is a primitive one…The text suggests that Yahweh honors those who use what they have and what is available to them rather than excusing themselves from commitment with ‘If I only had…’ or some other evasive statement. (Hamilton, 118)

Shamgar, the son of Anath His name suggests he was not an Israelite Killed 600 of the Philistine with an oxgoad God uses whomever and whatever he has to work with at the time… And he expects us to do the same!

Life Lessons From Judges God is in control whether we participate or not God uses unsuspecting people and unsuspecting ways to accomplish his will God uses whomever and whatever he has to work with at the time… And he expects us to do the same