Judges 3:31 – Everyone is at God’s disposal to fulfil His purpose

In just this one verse in Judges 3:31, we see a brief description of how God used a gentile as a deliverer to rescue Israel from some oppression that came from the Philistines. The encounter by this third deliverer of Israel may seem small, but it was actually a huge success. Just imagine one person with an ordinary ox-goad destroying 600 Philistines.

His name we are told is Shamgar. From the name of his parent, we surmise that He was probably not an Israelite. We are told that he was the son of Anath, the name of a female sex goddess and war. Anath was said to be the sister and helpmate of Baal, the Canaanite deity. Why God chose to use him is not revealed but His choice of Shamgar tells us that God can even use a gentile to deliver His people. Besides, what Shamgar used to kill 600 Philistines was not a special weapon but an ordinary ox-goad. It was only a wooden sharp-pointed stick that was used to poke, nudge and move oxen.  

This incidence tells us three things. Firstly, that God is sovereign and nothing is out of His control. Secondly, regardless of what affiliation a person may have, he or she is at God’s disposal to bring about the fulfilment of His purpose. If God can use a non-believer to fulfil His purpose surely, He will use us if we willingly yield ourselves to serve His purpose. Thirdly an ordinary weapon, as simple as an ox-goad, could be wielded as an instrument to save God’s people. In carrying out God’s work, an ordinary instrument can be used. What we truly need is divine wisdom and creativity. These come by connecting with God. No one can say he/she has nothing good enough for God to use.