The Judges – Othneil / Ehud / and Shamgar… (3 things)

• 1^st – The first judge of Israel – Othneil…vs. 1-11 Read: Judges 3:1-11
  • God purposely left pagan nations in the Land… vs. 1-4
    • The five cities of the Philistines / the Canaanites – along the Mediterranean coast…
      • Sidonians / and Hivites in Lebanon – along the northern boundaries of Israel…
      • They were left so that future generations of Israel would learn to fight…
    • God wants us to know – we are at war…
      • II Corinthians 10:4-6 – “We don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God.”

• Our enemies are not the sinners around us – though they certainly can be frustrating…
• The real enemy is the spiritual powers – the demonic influence behind this world…
• So often in life we miss who the real enemy is – we look at the people…
• They are puppets – they are being told what to say and do by the God of this world…
• Imagine the foolishness of trying to argue with a puppet – you do not get far!
• The key is to go at the one who is in control – attack the root problem!

• Our enemy is far stronger than we are…
  • In order to fight and win the battle – we need the right weapons…
  • The weapons of our warfare – are mighty in God – able to pull down fortresses…
  • The hardest target to defeat is a fortress – ready to repel any attack…
  • If you come at a fortress with sticks and stones – you are doomed to fail…
  • You needed specialized tools – siege ramps – catapults – to pull down the fortress!
  • If we come at satan in our own power/strength – we are doomed to fail…
  • The only way to take on our enemy is with in the power of God!
  • I John 4:4 – “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
• Our weapon is the Sword of the Word…
  • Ephesians 6:17 – “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…”
  • Jesus Word is the only Truth – it is how we know a lie from the Truth!
  • John 17:17 – “[Jesus said to the Father] Your word is truth.”
  • That is why it is so important for us to study our Bibles – so we KNOW the TRUTH!
  • II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”
• To tear down every argument that keeps people from knowing God!
  • People are burdened down by superstitions – things they imagine in their mind…
  • And they are bound to these fears – so long as satan can keep them from the Word! 
  • It is through the power of the Word – we can change the mind of the misled…
  • We can open their eyes – show them they have been deceived by satan’s lies!
• The first cycle of sin… vs. 5-11
  • The children of Israel did evil in the sight of God – married the people of the Land…
    • Before long they were worshiping the pagan gods – abandoning the Lord…
      • So God abandoned them – and let Israel be conquered by King of Mesopotamia…
      • His name was Chushan-Rishathaim – meaning ‘twice as wicked’…
      • He ruled over Israel for eight years – forcing them to pay a heavy tax!
    • God will never abandons us – but we can walk away from God…
      • Sin is devastating – if we refuse to repent of our sin – it will harden our hearts…
      • That does not mean God gives up fighting for us – but there will come a point…
      • If we continually choose sin – hardening our heart towards God…
      • Then God will give us what we want – He will turn us over to our sin…
      • Genesis 6:1 – “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever…”
      • So if we know someone who is caught up in sin – we need to warn them!
      • Hebrews 3:13 – “Exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
  • Israel repented – so God raised up a savior (Hebrew – shua)…
    • His name was Othneil – he was the son of Caleb’s younger brother…
      • The same Caleb who had spied out the Land with Joshua – Numbers 13
      • This shows just how quickly Israel rebelled against the Lord – one generation!
      • Sin is sneaky – and it can spread very quickly – stealing us away from God…
      • Often we do not even know what happened until the consequences come…
      • You meet that guy – and think you found heaven – until you end up pregnant…
      • You chase after the Peso – imaging riches – till you have lost all your friends…
    • The Spirit of God came upon Othneil – and he judged Israel…
      • He went out to war with Chushan-Rishathaim – and defeated him in battle!
      • And there was peace in the Land for 40 years – till the death of Othneil…
      • Othneil means – ‘Lion of God’ – the one who came to save Israel…
      • When we fall into sin (quickly) – tempted to run after the pleasures of this life…
      • And our life begins to fall apart – all we need to do is cry out to God…
      • No matter what we have done – not matter how much sin is in our life…
      • He will send us a savior – Ya-shua / Jesus – meaning ‘God is salvation’!
      • He is the ‘Lion of God’ – Revelation 5:5 – who gives us victory over sin!
      • He judged sin – paying the price for our salvation at Calvary – Colossians 2:14
• 2^nd – The second judge of Israel – Ehud…vs. 12-31 Read: Judges 3:12-30
  • Israel AGAIN did evil in the sight of the Lord… vs. 12-14
    • So God gave power to Moab (the nation who hired Balaam to tempt Israel)…
      • Moab made an alliance with Ammon (Moab and Ammon were the grandsons of Lot)…
        • After the destruction of Sodom Lot hid in the hill with his daughters…
        • His daughters – thinking all the men were dead – got their dad drunk…
        • They lay with him and both had sons – the Moabites and Ammonites…
      • And an alliance with the nation of Amalek (grandsons of Esau brother of Jacob)…
      • They defeated Israel – and captured the ‘city of palms’ – perhaps Jericho…
    • Everyone one of these nations was a relative of Israel….
      • The first attack had come from Mesopotamia – an unknown enemy to Israel…
      • This second attack came from family – people Israel trusted – Deuteronomy 2… 
      • God had even commanded Israel not to attack the descendents of Esau or Lot…
      • It is always easier to face challenges that come from people we do not know…
      • The most difficult battles we will face in life – are from those whom we love…
    • The Children of Israel had to serve them for 18 years…
      • When Israel was first defeated – they were only in captivity for 8 years…
      • Now with Moab – they were forced to serve them for 18 years…
      • As Israel continued in sin – God increased the consequences of their sin…
      • When we choose to rebel against God – He uses consequences to teach us…
      • We get fired from our job / or someone tires to sue us – take us to the barangay…
      • But if we are not willing to listen – if we continue in our sin – greater consequences…
      • Our kids begin to act up / or our marriage begins to fall apart…
      • God is willing to do almost anything to get our attention – keep us from sin…
      • Because He knows that sin will keep us from Him – keep us out of heaven…
      • So no price is too great / consequence to severe – if it means we turn back to God!
    • God would eventually deliver Israel through Ehud – peace in the Land for 80 years!
      • There had only been 40 years of peace after Othneil…
      • I do not remember every time I got a cut or a bruise as a child…
      • But I will never forget when I broke my wrist and had to get a caste…
      • The greater the consequence – the better we learn the lesson…
      • In OT times the practice of shepherds was to break the legs of sheep that wandered…
      • They would then take the sheep and carry them till the leg healed…
      • The purpose was to teach the sheep to completely depend on the Shepherd!
      • When we choose to get caught up in sin – there are consequences – Galatians 6:7
      • We may end up with a ‘broken leg’ – but it is then Jesus carries us…
      • So that we learn always to trust in Him – always staying close by His side!
  • Israel cried out to God – and He sent a deliverer… vs. 15-30
    • His name was Ehud – ‘I will give thanks’ – and he was left-handed…
      • He was sent by Israel give their ‘tribute’ to Eglon the King of Moab…
      • But he hid an 18” double-edged dagger on his right thigh – under his clothes…
      • If you are right handed – you keep your ‘sword’ on your left side – easy to draw out…
      • Being left-handed gave Ehud an advantage – no one would check for his weapon!
    • Ehud obviously intended to try to assassinate the King…
      • Yet once he had paid the tribute – he went home having done nothing…
      • Until he came to the stone idols near Gilgal – where the Angel had met with Israel…
      • Someone had set up worship there to false gods – right where God had met Joshua!
    • Ehud angered by what saw – turned around and went back to see Eglon!
      • There are times when we as believers in Jesus – we should be angry…
      • Not angry at sinners – they need our help – but angry at sin…
      • Angry at those things that destroy faith – keep people from Jesus…
      • A Disco with people ‘having fun’ – ignoring the consequences – prison / babies…
      • At billboards making you think it is ‘cool’ to drink and party – I get angry…
      • We need to be angry enough to take action – people’s lives are being destroyed!
    • Ehud came into the throne room – told King Eglon he has a secret message for him…
      • Trusting this man who had just given him the tribute of Israel…
        • Eglon sent out all the servants from the room – to keep the secret / a secret…
        • Now King Eglon was a VERY fat man – his name means – ‘like a cow’…
        • Ehud exclaimed to the King – ‘I have a message from God for you!’
        • Afraid the King rose – just as Ehud plunged the dagger into his stomach…
        • The dagger completely disappeared into his fat stomach – and he pooped himself!
      • A decidedly fitting end – to a King who oppressed the people of God…
        • If your kids are disobedient – you are going to punish them to teach them…
        • But even if you kids are disobedient – if someone else touched them…
        • God does not mess around when it comes to His children – do not touch His kids!
        • God used Babylon to punish Israel – take them into 70 years of captivity…
        • But in the end Babylon would be punished for coming against Israel!
        • Jeremiah 51:24, 49 – “I will repay Babylon and the people of Babylonia for all the wrong they have done to my people in Jerusalem,” says the LORD. Just as Babylon killed the people of Israel… so must her people be killed.”
    • Ehud went out the back door – locking the room before he left…
      • The servants thought the King was ‘using the CR’ (smell?) – so did not disturb him…
        • After a long time – concerned they opened the doors to find the King dead…
        • In the mean time Ehud gathered Israel to war against Moab…
        • Without their King to lead them – Israel easily defeated their enemies…
      • They killed over 10,000 of the mightiest warriors of Moab – not one escaped!
        • So often we just go along with what everyone else is doing…
        • Even if we know it is wrong – we assume we are just one person – what can we do…
        • All it took was one man being willing to stand up against sin – it saved a nation…
        • It might just be as we ‘get angry’ at the evil in the world around us…
        • As we stand up for Jesus – God will use us to revive a nation!

Because it is not about us – it is about God who wants to do a work through us!

3^rd – The third judge of Israel – Shamgar…vs. 31 Read: Judges 3:31

After Ehud a man called Shamgar – ‘sword’ – delivered Israel…

Apparently the Philistines were the next nation to oppress Israel…

God raised up Shamgar – and he killed 600 Philistines using an ox goad…

Suggesting perhaps Shamgar was just a simple farmer – who had no other weapons…

There is a common misconception that God only uses the ‘elite’…

In order to be used by God you have to have a 4-year degree – PhD in theology…

That is the wisdom of men – a worldly idea that has crept into the church…

You do not see any Bible colleges or seminaries in the Bible – you just see sinners…

God chooses to use simple farmer / fishermen / shepherds – to transform a nation…