Theme of the Week: The Book of Judges
Bible Verse: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD Will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31
Scripture Reading: Judges 2:1-23
Our God is a God of infinite variety who uses people of all kinds, shapes, and colors, and He has a wonderfully unique purpose for each one of us. To prove this, we need only consider the first three judges mentioned in the book of Judges. Three great principles stand out.
God uses completely different kinds of people. If you were trying to find in Judges 3 a stereotype of the kind of person God uses, you would end up very confused.
You would look at Othniel and say, “Well, obviously God uses a man of proven ability, superior character, and spiritual depth from the finest of background.”
But God worked through Ehud too, a person others thought had a serious disqualifying, limitation. Prominent, courageous, capable – but with a defect. Yet God was able to use his limitation as a platform for His glory.
But you say, “I cannot even identify with Ehud. After all, he was a pretty important man.” Therefore, God chose Shamgar, a peasant from a paganized family and worked through him.
Now I don’t know what you see when you look at yourself. You may see a Shamgar or an Ehud. You are not an Othniel, and you know it. But God uses Ehuds, and God uses Shamgars, and He will use you if you only will trust Him.
God uses people who draw their strength from Him. Even Othniel with all his abilities and talents was successful only because of what the Holy Spirit did through him. Let me remind you of Isaiah 40:29-31.
I am always delighted to remember that in the phrase “the LORD Will renew their strength,” the word renew can be rendered to “exchange” or to “replace.” Those who wait for the Lord will exchange their weakness for His strength. That is what God calls us to do – to come to Him and receive his gift of “exchanged strength.”
God uses people who step out in faith and trust Him. Shamgar, Ehud, and Othniel were different in many ways, but they had one thing in common. They had the courage to take a risk, to step out in faith for God. They were bold enough to take God at His word and confront the enemy.
Whoever you are, God has a place for you. Your limitations are not a problem for Him. He can deal with them. Accept yourself – not your sins, but your limitations. God does. Then step out in faith to see Him take you as a unique individual and work through you for His glory.
Taken from Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay by Gary Inrig. ©1979, 2005 by Gary Inrig, and used by permission of Discovery House, Grand Rapids MI 49501. All rights reserved.
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