Dear Church,
I challenge you to embrace the reality that you were made to change the world. One person CAN change the world. On Sunday, we looked at two obscure Bible figures who each changed the world. Jehosheba, a godly woman, born to evil parents, chose to risk it all to preserve the royal bloodline when her wicked stepmother called for the slaughter of every royal. Jehosheba saved and hid her nephew for 6+ years.
Why was this daring rescue so special and strategic and important? Had every grandchild been killed as the evil queen had ordered, there wouldn’t have been a descendant of King David’s to sit on the throne as had been promised by God in I Kings 9:5 and Jesus, the Messiah, who had been prophesied to come through the lineage of the House of David in II Samuel 7:12 and Isaiah 9:7? Well, that could never have occurred.
Jehosheba’s actions were part of God’s plan to keep His promise to the House of David. How important were Jehosheba’s actions that day? She single-handedly saved King David’s last surviving descendant!
Here is someone who could easily be overlooked with a quick read of the Scripture, but whose courage and quick thinking preserved the Davidic blood line from whom Jesus descended. What promises might God want to preserve in and through your life? What practices might He want to re-establish or preserve in and through your faith, your faithfulness, and your influence over people?
Great reformation can often begin with just one person.
The other obscure character I mentioned was a guy named Shamgar.
Judges 3:31-“After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel. Now Shamgar carried and fought with an oxgoad. An oxgoad wasn’t a weapon. It was an agricultural tool. It was a pole, some 8-10 feet long and was about 2 inches in diameter. One end was tipped by a long iron point. That end was used to prod the oxen he was driving to move. The other end of the tool was shaped like a spade.
The nation of Israel was being oppressed by Jabin, the King of Canaan. Jabin was a powerful enemy, who possessed 900 iron chariots (Jud. 4:3). His army seemed totally unbeatable.
King Jabin had disarmed the Israelites and made them weak militarily. They were not in a position to defend themselves. This provided an opportunity for the Philistines, a warlike people who lived near the Mediterranean Sea, to take advantage of the situation. They would invade Israel and capture slaves, steal crops and destroy villages.
When the Philistines came, most of the people in Israel would flee in terror. They wanted to avoid death or capture. Shamgar, however, refuse to flee.
When the Philistines came, he stood his ground and he fought. He did not have any weapons of war, but he had his oxgoad. He chose to fight with his farm tool.Shamgar took what he had and he used it to secure victory for his people and safety for his family. He killed 600 of the Philistine raiders. Oh, he wasn’t a mighty warrior like King David with a sword or a strong man like Samson, but he was a bad boy with an oxgoad who was just determined he wasn’t budging when the enemy came calling. ?
The Bible tells that Shamgar “delivered Israel“. He was just an ordinary guy, a farmer, who used what he had to stand his ground against the enemy. His courage freed the people around him and allowed them to live in freedom and liberty. He made a difference in the lives of those he fought for. And Just as God enabled Shamgar to become a mighty warrior, He will enable you in and through His Spirit to become the same.
Get in the battle and to stay in the battle. Shamgar used what he had in his possession, and he stood his ground. The result was that an entire nation was saved through his efforts. Each of us has what we need in order to protect our families and faith as well as what we need to go on the offensive, route the enemy and win people for Christ. There are some things worth fighting for, and the salvation of souls, the spiritual integrity of the church, and the spiritual protection of our families are definitely three on my list.
And here we are again, talking about the power of one. Shamgar was just one person. He wasn’t a stand out, but he took a stand, and an entire nation was delivered from oppression. Ordinary people can do great things. Don’t wait for a title. Don’t wait for a platform. Don’t wait for more training. Use what you have where you are and bring deliverance to those around you. You may never have your name in lights. There may never be a movie made about your heroism, your smarts, or your generosity, but Someone is watching who will see it all and reward you well.
Let’s go make our difference for the Kingdom this week!
Pastor Melissa
