God often calls the Ordinary to do Extraordinary Things

“After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.” Judges 3:31

In the Bible, as in everyday life, some people get more notoriety than others, but God created each of us for a purpose and for most it is low profile, but not necessarily unimportant. In the Bible we read so much about Moses, Abraham, Paul and all of the disciples, but many who get lesser attention play no less an important role.

One of those is Shamgar, who is mentioned only in two verses, both in the Book of Judges. We know little about him, but we do know a lot about the time he lived. The Philistines were the terrorists of their day keeping the Israelites in constant fear. In Judges 5, the only other place where Shamgar is mentioned, it says “the roads were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths.” So fearful were God’s people that they were afraid to travel on the established roads.

Shamgar lived in an area infested with Philistines. Shamgar was likely a farmer, as he is described as having only an “ox goad,” an instrument of wood about eight feet long, armed with an iron spike or point at one end, with which to spur the ox at plow, and with an iron scraper at the other end with which to detach the earth from the plowshare when it became encumbered with it.

Shamgar was minding his own business of plowing when the Philistines made an inroad upon the country to ravage it, and God put it into his heart to oppose them; the impulse being sudden and strong, and having neither sword nor spear to do execution with, he took the instrument that was next at hand. The weapon was weak, but God placed strength in his arm and he slew six hundred Philistines. An ox goad with God was a better weapon than the sword of Goliath without God. He overcame six hundred to one odds.

Shamgar was an ordinary man upon whom God called and equipped to do extra ordinary things. Shamgar and God partnered against a common enemy. Shamgar is an example of a man who was willing to be used by God for the purpose God designed for him. For the place and time God had for him.

Shamgar was ready when God needed him. And that is the main lesson we learn from Shamgar and the most important quote of that one verse is “that he too saved Israel.” By the world’s standards, Shamgar was a most unlikely candidate to save his country, but one person plus God can be a majority.

We learn four lessons from Shamgar on how to serve God:

1. Start where you are.

2. Use what you have.

3. Do what you can.

4. Depend on God for the rest.

Are you willing and ready for God to use you as a Shamgar? If you are, He will.