Judges 3:31 reads, “Shamgar…struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.”
Shamgar is mentioned only twice in Scripture, and his story takes up three lines and two verses. But his impact was amazing. And it’s a challenge to all those who think, “God would never use someone like me.”
He may have been the least qualified person to deliver Israel from the Philistines. For starters, he likely wasn’t even an Israelite. His name is Hurrian in the original. He could have rationalized inaction in a dozen different ways. “I don’t have the right weapon. I can’t do this by myself. These aren’t even my people.”
If you look for an excuse you will always find one. If you don’t, you won’t. When it comes to making excuses, we are infinitely creative. What if we channeled that creativity into finding solutions instead of finding excuses? If we did, God could use us as an instrument to fulfill His purposes just as He used Shamgar.
When God stirs your spirit or moves your heart, you cannot sit back, you’ve got to step up and step in. And when you do, it can become a defining moment in your life. Don’t worry about the results. If it’s the right thing, the results are God’s responsibility. Focus on doing right things for the right reason, and don’t buy into the lie that it can’t be done! Yes, it will take all-out effort, but you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13).
A failed attempt is not failing. Failing is not trying, if you are trying, in God’s eyes you are succeeding. So grab your oxgoad – and go for it.
© 2017 CE